New York's Spitzer becoming a political hot property

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/26/elec04.g.spitzer.ap/

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has been going back and forth to Washington lately to testify before Congress about wrongdoing on Wall Street, traveling a path that could lead straight to the governorship in 2006.

The Democrat has made no secret of his desire to be governor of New York. And his attacks on unethical trading practices, self-dealing and conflicts of interest in the financial world have produced big headlines and favorable coverage.

"Eliot Spitzer's path-breaking work on behalf of investors has positioned him perfectly for higher office," said Howard Wolfson, a top Democratic operative and a key player in Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate victory in New York three years ago. "No politician in America has done more to hold Wall Street accountable."

The 44-year-old Harvard Law graduate has stopped just short of saying he is in the race. But in nearly every other respect, he appears to be running.

In addition to stepping up his criticism of Republican Gov. George Pataki -- last year, the governor was "engaging and smart;" this year, the Pataki administration is "lacking in real strategic thinking and accountability" -- Spitzer has begun raising the money he will need to get there.

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[davidinalameda]

1. good for him

maybe we can take back the New York governorship now

[Stephanie]

2. He better pay attention to the BBV voting machines first

Pataki muscled through a plan to have BBV machines installed statewide. Lobbyists are in Albany RIGHT NOW vying for the contract. I have emailed Spitzer about this repeatedly. He needs to take action. He's the one who could really confront this problem, IMO, and he's got the most to lose if he ignores it.