N.Y. Gov. Pataki leaves hospital

NEW YORK --Gov. George Pataki was released from a hospital Monday after 18 days of treatment for appendicitis and complications that followed surgery.

"It's great to feel the fresh air and sunshine," Pataki said as he walked out of New York-Prebyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical School.

"I'm not 100 percent but I'm a lot better than I was a few days ago," he said.

The New York Republican, who is weighing a run for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, was hospitalized in Westchester County on Feb. 16 and had his appendix removed. He was transferred to the Manhattan hospital on Feb. 21 and was operated on later that day to deal with a blockage of his intestine.

Pataki told reporters last week he was "chomping at the bit" to go home and have a pizza and a cold beer.

"I'm still waiting for that pizza and hamburger, but it's still a few days off," he said outside the hospital Monday.

Pataki, 60, has been in generally good health during his three terms as governor.

"He will still require some intravenous antibiotics at home," said his doctor, Spencer Amory. "There is still a small possibility ... of infection later."