Eliot Spitzer to Run for NY Gov; It's Official

Asylum Forums : Powered by vBulletin version 2.2.8

Asylum Forums > Políticás der Monde > Eliot Spitzer to Run for NY Gov; It's Official

Last Thread Next Thread

Author

Thread

Paint CHiPs
Viva Le Me

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

Eliot Spitzer to Run for NY Gov; It's Official

quote:
ALBANY -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, whose investigations of white-collar crime have shaken the nation's financial institutions, said Tuesday he will run for governor in 2006.

Long known to be interested in the job, it was the first time the high-profile attorney general has said he will definitely run.

"The state is at a point of crisis," the Democrat told The Associated Press. "We are bleeding jobs. We need reform in the process of government."

In his two terms, Spitzer has won national and international attention with groundbreaking investigations of Wall Street investment houses, mutual fund managers and, most recently, the insurance industry.

Republican Gov. George Pataki has not yet said if he will seek a fourth, four-year term in 2006, although new state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik said Friday that he expected the governor would run for re-election.

NY is infamous for its three term curse. Governors just can't seem to make it past three terms. Cuomo and D'Amato being the most recent to fall.

Pataki is not particularly popular in the state, even among Republicans (the GOP-controlled Senate just overrode his veto on the minimum wage bill there). And I'm not even convinced he will indeed run. He seems to (understandably) not want to get embroiled in a fight with Spitzer for the governorship when he has his sights on higher things anyway (either for Senate against Hillary in 06, or full on for President in 08, something I consider a strong possibility). MstrG would probably have some insights into that. And, not meaning to make Gulliani a constant refrain (but he's such a wild card it's hard not to), there has also been talk that he might run for Governor if Pataki decides not to. Presumably while he is also running for Senate and the Presidency. Though even if he did, I'd be hesitant to assume he'd win. Spitzer would be tough to beat for anybody. Schumer's already cleared the way for him within the Democratic party; if Pataki chooses not to run and Rudy doesn't step in, Spitzer could concievably seal up the race two years early.

Actually, NY is going to be (aside from Santorum's seat here in PA) the state to watch in 06. A Senate election against a Democrat everybody would LOVE to see lose, the second highest profile governorship that's been in Republican hands for a long time, and NYC mayor seat coming back up (Gifford Miller, the Democratic City Council chief, is already campaigning for the job, a central theme being that NYC should be in Democratic hands just on general principle, though Bloomberg, weirdly, is still fairly popular). NY is also an interesting test case because it's so solidly a blue state, and yet Bush made some of his best popular vote gains here, and between him and the Republicans in charge on 9-11, they've got a lot of vestigial good will to burn up, though how much that bleeds to other GOP candidates remains to be seen, and the GOP party structure in NY is pretty much a joke. But, for a lot of reasons, for us political junkies, most eyes are quickly starting to turn to New York for the midterm fix.

Back to the governorship though, If anybody is worried that the Democrats will be forever shut out of national politics, take a look at Eliot Spitzer. He'll be coming of age nationally at about the same time Barack Obama will (12, 16), and is every bit as dynamic. He's not quite the speaker Obama is, but he's got the biography and the tough on crime cred that any national candidate would envy; he's like a Democratic Elliot Ness (Untouchables, for you limeys), and his approach (fighting for the common man sort of thing) has a lot of blue collar appeal.

His website's pretty good too.

Here is his statement today on his blog:

quote:

I’m Running for Governor

Almost a year ago, I said I would consider running for Governor of New York and that I would make a decision before the end of the year. I've thought about it carefully. I've consulted many people across New York. I've talked to my wife and family, and I've reached a conclusion.

I will run for Governor of New York in 2006. I believe I can be a very good governor and I think the people of this state will be pleased by the job I do as governor.

I start with the proposition that I'm going to fight for all New Yorkers and do my best for all the people of this state, regardless of their position or party, or color or creed.

One of the keys to solving the problems of New York is to make state government more responsive and accountable. Right now, New York government is all about partisanship and gridlock. We're not doing the things we need to do to generate good paying jobs, safe neighborhoods and excellent schools. The system is broken. The state is facing a crisis.

I want to fix what's broken. It's what I do best. I bring people together whether they like it or not and we tackle complex problems – not with band-aid solutions, but with major reform and real change. We did it in the financial industry and other sectors and we can do it in government. I'll bring new energy and resolve to the task of transforming state government and turning around the state economy.

Today, I am confirming that I intend to run for governor and I have authorized my supporters outside the government to begin preparations for a campaign.

The people of New York have been wonderfully supportive of my work so far – and I will be asking for your continued support as we move forward to 2006. The most important thing I can do during the next year is to listen. I ask for your continued feed-back through www.spitzer2006.com and as I travel around New York. Let's discuss the direction of our state and the things we can do to strengthen it.

I believe that people who want change are a very positive and powerful force. I am depending on you and millions of New Yorkers who understand New York's history and tradition as a place of unparalleled opportunity. We believe that New York can be great. We believe that we can change things. That's what my candidacy for governor will be all about.

Eliot

"I want to fix what's broken. It's what I do best. I bring people together whether they like it or not" pretty much sums up the kind of person and candidate Spitzer is. He's every bit the rising star that Obama is, and if he takes the Governorship, it'll be hard to hold him back from the White House.

__________________