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Wednesday, November 16, 2005

NY-Gov: Tom Suozzi, What Are You Thinking?

Posted by DavidNYC

According to the New York Observer and Newsday, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi is seriously looking to challenge Eliot Spitzer for the NY gubernatorial nomination. There is no way Suozzi can beat Spitzer - the only thing he can do is raise his own profile. But he will also create a lot of enmity - enmity which would far outweigh any increased name recognition he might earn, in my opinion.

NY also has an obscenely late primary date (September), which is designed to protect incumbents. Fortunately, Spitzer won't be facing an incumbent, but if he has to waste time fending off Suozzi, that curtails his ability to turn his guns on whomever his Republican opponent will be. If I were Spitzer, I might try ignoring Suozzi altogether. If the first poll of a hypothetical primary puts Suozzi's support in the teens and Spitzer's at or over 50% (as I'd expect), then this strategy might work.

On the other hand, maybe those news reports are wrong. We can only hope.

(Via Political Wire.)

Posted at 10:23 AM in 2006 Elections - State, New York | Technorati

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Comments

Suozzi is the puppet of a very rich, very hate-filled psychotically anti-Spitzer Republican who is happy to finance Suozzi's race against Spitzer. Billionaire financier Ken Langone, as chairman of the New York Stock Exchange compensation committee, was charged by Spitzer with deceiving fellow board members when he pushed through the massive pay package for his pal, former NYSE chairman Dick Grasso. Langone has vowed revenge and Suozzi is the pathetic patsy.

Posted by: DownWithTyranny at November 16, 2005 12:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

So what he's thinking, it seems, is that this is a good way to get rich quick. Not all politics is about politics.

For Langone, then, this would be a way to get some attack ads going even before the general campaign begins. As long as we hang on to our ridiculous electoral system we'll keep seeing more and more crap like this.

Posted by: DaveW at November 16, 2005 12:22 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What a waste of time and money. Some democrats are so pathetic with their power grabs. It looks like someone is challenging hillary for the Dem primary also. Here's an idea: GO RUN AGAINST A REPUBLICAN SOMEWHERE.

I understand that primary battles within the party are positive for influencing an incumbent to move more towards the middle or the left, but really. Sherrod Brown and Paul Hackett should not be fighting for the same senate seat, spitzer and clinton should run unopposed, and all the wasted time and money should be put into competitive races where a few hundred thousands dollars might make a huge difference.

Posted by: Ferris at November 16, 2005 03:10 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Yes, Suozzi's entrance into the race would hurt Spitzer a bit. But I would think first before you criticize him so much.

Tom Suozzi is more crucial to the Democrats' future success in New York State politics than Spitzer, without question. Yes, Spitzer is a good AG with statewide following, good credentials, and I would vote for him over Suozzi on experience, but Suozzi is good too.

Suozzi is the reason Democrats may be able to take control of the State Senate in '06. He is loved as the Nassau Cty. Executive and helped the turnover of politics in Nassau and Suffolk.

So think before you know Suozzi so much. Even if Suozzi does run and Spitzer beats him in the primary, he'll energize the Long Island voters/Democrats in the race.

see more about what I think on LI here: http://doittheleftway.blogspot.com/2005/11/long-island-matters-more-than-nyc.html

Posted by: jblitzer at November 16, 2005 04:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

DavidNYC you are dead on right. Spitzer has won two statewide elections including beating an incumbent to win the AGs post in 1998. Spitzer is clearly the Dems best chance to win the Governorship.

Suozzi has strengths but this seems to be a vanity run. He isn't known outside of Nassau county and won't beat Spitzer in a primary. All he can do is weaken Spitzer for a general election. If Suozzi causes Gov. Weld I will never forget him.

Posted by: John Mills at November 19, 2005 06:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I was astonishied when Elliott Spitzer called for re-instating the Death Penalty for terrorists recently. The State Assembly just rejected the death penalty this year, and he's going to push it? The overwhealming magority of Democrats oppose Capital Punishment. Spitzer grandstanding on this issue is a slap in the face to the base of the party. Besides, any terrorist would be Federally prosecuted. Tom Suozzi opposes the Death Penalty. I would have to support Suozzi in the primary unless Spitzer backs off this.

I would reccomend e-mailing spitzer at spitzer@spitzer2006.com if you are upset about this.

Posted by: MichaelNYC at November 26, 2005 09:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment