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SD-48: Spitzer Says Special Election in Mid February, He's Staying Out Of It

by: phillip anderson

Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 09:02:51 AM EST

Eliot Spitzer told an upstate TV station that he's looking at a mid to late February date for the special election in SD-48. He also told them that he's not taking sides.

Spitzer predicts mid-late February special Senate election, won't take sides between Aubertine/Barclay

Governor Eliot Spitzer predicts mid or late-February for the special Senate election but said he's not taking sides in the race.
Spitzer spoke to NewsWatch50 via satellite early Wednesday morning.
Asked if he supports fellow Democrat Darrel Aubertine in the race against Republican Will Barclay, Spitzer said:
"Look, Darrel's a great friend. I think Darrel's a spectacular guy. He's genuine. He's a guy who's a real commodity. He's somebody who knows the district who in the Assembly has done a great job. But again, I'm not gonna get involved. This is a Senate race right now that will take its own course. Darrel's a great friend and I wish him well of course. But I'm the Governor of the state and I'm worried today about articulating an economic development strategy for all of the state."
...
Earlier in the NewsWatch50 interview, Spitzer refused to be drawn into the upstate Republicans vs. downstate Democrats theme that has seemed prevalent in the Barclay campaign to date.
"I'm not going to get involved in the partisan politics. I'll leave that sort of sniping to others. I'm Governor of the entire state..." Spitzer said.

Honestly, I think this is a wise move.

phillip anderson :: SD-48: Spitzer Says Special Election in Mid February, He's Staying Out Of It

Tags: SD-48, Darrel Aubertine, Will Barclay, Eliot Spitzer, State Senate, (All Tags)

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SD-48: Spitzer Says Special Election in Mid February, He's Staying Out Of It | 3 comments

What Spitzer was saying without actually saying was... (0.00 / 0)

that he needs to accomplish a few things first to make up for the major political loss with the driver's license policy before he can campaign for anyone again. And because this is a special election, it falls only a few months after this whole thing was over. So it would be too early for him to jump into the ring and campaign for Aubertine.

It's sad and stupid. You would love a Democratic governor to be there helping out a Democratic Senate candidate. But thanks to the Republicans fearmongering (and some Democrats cowardly standing down to them), Spitzer must sit in the shadows during this election.

by: robert.harding @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 17:17:20 PM UTC

True (4.00 / 1)

Yet, I think even if Spitzer wasn't as unpopular as he is now, he would be a good idea for Aubertine to distance himself from Spitzer and the party in general. In such a Republican leaning district, it would probably be an asset for Aubertine to appear as, heh, "independent" as possible. Besides, I would assume Spitzer is doing everything in his power to help Aubertine behind the scenes.

by: Klugstah @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 17:40:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I see your point... (0.00 / 0)

but I'm not sold on it. Spitzer was elected in a very bipartisan manner. Even here in Orleans County, where Spitzer was chastized by the Republican-dominated Legislature for the driver's license plan, Spitzer received serious bipartisan support in 2006. And, if you look at the results in the three counties that make up the 48th SD, Spitzer won big in all three counties (at least when comparing GOP voters to DEM voters).

So yes, it is a Republican leaning district, but it's also one that provided huge rural support for Spitzer in 2006. If the timing was right, Spitzer would be there. But because of the dirt that was shoveled onto him by the GOP, he has to sit this one out.

by: robert.harding @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 17:51:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]