Former New York Gov. George Pataki returned Thursday to the Capitol for the unveiling of his portrait, surrounded by supporters who packed a room and gave him standing ovations.

The three-term Republican governor, saying it was not a day for politics, declined to speculate on whether he’ll run for the U.S. Senate next year. Instead he urged everyone to help Democratic Gov. David Paterson, who introduced him Thursday, during “very difficult and challenging times.”

Pataki noted that the office is Paterson’s “for the next 15 months at least.”

Paterson, despite low poll numbers, says he’s running for governor next year. He has been facing steep budget deficits during a national recession that has hit New York hard, driving up unemployment and driving down tax receipts.

The 64-year-old Pataki, a lawyer and ex-legislator, was governor from 1995 to 2007. If he decides to run for the Senate, he would face Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, whom Paterson appointed this year to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, now secretary of state.

Pataki said the portrait, showing him on the porch of his home in Garrison with the lower Hudson River in the background, was his daughter’s idea. He noted that his hair is now gray – unlike in the painting.

“As is usually the case, I’m in the picture, but others came up with the ideas,” Pataki said, getting laughs from a crowd that included several officials from his administration.

“I hope they know that’s not true,” he continued. “I do come up with some ideas.”

Charles Gargano, who was Pataki’s top statewide economic development adviser, said that during those 12 years New York’s violent crime rate dropped sharply, the New York City mayor got control of the city school system, charter schools began, 19 taxes were cut, a million people left the welfare rolls, a million acres of open space were protected, and New York responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in Manhattan.

Both Pataki and Paterson described an early meeting, when both were legislators, in the gym for lawmakers. Sen. William Stachowski was bench pressing a heavy weight and called for help when he couldn’t get it off his chest.

Pataki and Paterson each grabbed an end of the barbell.

Paterson joked that Pataki first checked whether Republicans had a chance at taking Stachowski’s Erie County district before deciding to help the Democrat.

Pataki said that Paterson, who’s legally blind, had no idea whether he was helping or not.

“I just pretended,” Pataki said as Paterson and the crowd laughed. “You lifted.”

Source: AP