To me there is a big difference between the fed blackmailing the states regarding laws and funding, and messing around with the internal politics of the states. 0Bama could insure that Paterson not run or be defeated in the primary by having the DOJ start some trumped up investigation just prior to the election. That could happen in any state to effect an election, which is scary.
In essence, I agree with you that there is a difference with the feds blackmailing the states over highway funding and education funding.
But the only thing that's slightly out of whack here, as I see it, is that Lord Zero's minions didn't even make an attempt to hide the fact that he, the NY Governor, is to be thrown under LZ's bus.
The story about how Paterson favored Gillibrand over Caroline Kennedy, and how he endorsed Hillary rather than LZ certainly makes sense.
I kinda wonder how LBJ would've handled this kind of thing.
Instead of sending a minion to tell the governor not to bother running, LBJ would've called the guy on the phone and done the same thing.
Bottom line is, it's not the first time that the WH gets involved in state politics and it won't be the last.