Is David Paterson a better orator than Barack Obama?

I’ve been in the room for a dozen or so appearances by Governor David Paterson, and for one appearance by President Barack Obama.

On this day, when the Governor was in Crown Point and the President is prepping for his SOTU address, I can’t help playing with a comparison.

The first-blush answer to the question in the headline of this post is, obviously, Mr. Obama.

His speeches during the 2008 campaign are some of the most compelling and rousing examples of political oratory since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.

But I’ll be honest: The teleprompter thing is getting to me. As a professional news reader, I can’t help but notice that Mr. Obama is performing.

He’s reading well, but he’s still reading. He rarely seems to really embody what he’s saying. It’s not just a lack of passion.

I often have the sense that he has two more speeches to deliver after this one — and he’ll probably deliver those pretty well, too.

But is he feeling it? Is his attention really focused? I’m not feeling it.

Compare that to David Paterson: Because of his visual impairment, New York’s governor performs almost entirely from memory.

No teleprompters and at least when he’s on the road, no earbuds.

At Crown Point today, he was able to name state and local officials from Vermont and New York, practically down to the dogcatcher level.

A gimmick? A mnemonic trick? I don’t think so.

He was also able to talk with nuance about the economic impacts of the bridge closure on these regional communities — and about the complex programs that have been implemented to solve the problem.

Asked about the Moriah Shock prison closure, Mr. Paterson talked knowledgeably about that particular facility, about corrections policy, about the changing prison industry.

Whatever he’s talking about, he seems to actually be in that moment, thinking about that thing. Not about his next speech in Buffalo, or wherever.

A final observation: Paterson is often funny and unpredictable. Not always great qualities in a politician, but interesting in an orator.

Obviously, both men’s communications skills will be tested in the coming months.

Mr. Obama will need every bit of that bully pulpit to salvage his agenda from a lackluster first year.

And Mr. Paterson will have to step up his game several notches to win a first full term.

His best laugh-line today?

He promised to be back in Crown Point next year, as governor, when the new Lake Champlain bridge is opened for traffic.