NY-Gov: More Trouble For Suozzi

by Scott Shields, Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 01:37:16 PM EST

When I first learned that the Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, was entertaining the idea of challenging Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New York, I thought he was probably just trying to make waves to raise his profile. And then I learned that Ken Langone, a billionaire Republican financier with a serious grudge against Spitzer, was one of Suozzi's main cheerleaders. I hoped Suozzi wouldn't take the bait.

Unfortunately, Suozzi did take the bait, officially announcing his candidacy last week. Even more unfortunately, Sen. Chuck Schumer -- another beneficiary of Republican Langone's largesse -- decided to throw his weight behind Suozzi, as well. In researching Langone's financial support of Schumer, it struck me that he'd also supported William Weld, then the Governor of Massachusetts challenging John Kerry for his Senate seat. This is notable as Weld has since moved to New York and is pursuing the Republican nomination for the governorship of that state. It's an eyebrow raiser, to say the least.

But according to the New York Observer's blog, The Politicker, Langone may not be the only enemy of Spitzer's actively backing Suozzi. Nicole Brydson reports that questions are being raised about "campaign donations [Suozzi] received from individuals tied to First American Title Insurance, now under investigation by Eliot Spitzer."

Now, I should make something clear here. I am not opposed to primaries. It makes me a little uncomfortable when people view any debate within the party as a bad thing. However, in this case, I question why Suozzi's in this race. Is it really to help shape the debate? Or is he allowing himself to be used by powerful interests to bloody Spitzer for the general election? Because I think Suozzi's a promising Democrat, I can't stand the fact that I think it's the latter. Based on the evidence however, that's the impression I'm left with.

In his campaign announcement speech, Suozzi said that "New York needs an independent leader who owes nothing to the insiders and the lobbyists and answers only to you." That's great rhetoric. But when he accepts support from a fellow Democrat's most crooked enemies, it certainly doesn't seem to match the reality.

Tags: Democrats, Governor 2005-2006, New York, states (all tags)

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Re: NY-Gov: More Trouble For Suozzi

Scott - It's nothing but an attempt to bloody-up Spitzer. It's the worse kept political secret on Wall Street (my former stopping grounds).
Traders, bankers, lawyers and just about everybody in between has it out for Spitzer, and Suozzi could care less. He wants to build his own name recognition and political future and he'll got a lot of money do to just that this year.

Remember, Suozzi is a Long Island guy and not the most progressive New Yorker in the world. He's a different animal then say someone from the city.

by Eric11 2006-03-03 01:54PM | 0 recs

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Re: NY-Gov: More Trouble For Suozzi

Eric11 - You are 100% right. This is a vanity run financed by Spitzer's enemies and Suozzi will probably end up doing the Repubs dirty work for them.

I don't see Suozzi beating Spitzer but he could do enough damage to hold down Spitzer's general election margin. This could impact down ballot races, especially the State Senate, which the Dems are close to taking. I am not much of a conspiracy theorist but it would not shock me if Joe Bruno, the Repub Senate Maj Ldr, is lurking somewhere in the shadows. He has the most to gain from Suozzi's run.

by John Mills 2006-03-03 02:54PM | 0 recs

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TR Reborn

Spitzer is a modern day Teddy Roosevelt. Not since the turn of the century have big buisness been so active in trying to stop one candidate. I predict great things from Governor Spitzer.

by jkfp2004 2006-03-03 02:11PM | 0 recs

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If Souzzi cares about the party he will leave the

Race to Progressive Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and jump into the NY-03 race agenst Rep. Peter King.

by Liberal 2006-03-03 02:34PM | 0 recs

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If Souzzi cares about the party he will leave the

Suozzi is a guy who saw running for State Attorney General as a step down despite the fact he has only been elected to office in Nassau County. There is no way he is going to run for Congress.

by John Mills 2006-03-03 03:07PM | 0 recs

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If Souzzi cares about the party he will leave the

I didn't mean to say I wouldn't like to see him take on Pete King. I would but he'll never do it.

by John Mills 2006-03-03 03:11PM | 0 recs

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Re: If Souzzi cares about the party he will leave

Suozzi is an executive. He would freak out in a legislative body.

Though beating King will be very hard, Souzzi would get plenty of airtime and keep the affections of NYs voters by running a Quixotic "reform" platform race.

He should cede the Gov race to Spitzer, run against and lose to King - it WILL help the statewide ticket and set him up for 2008 when Spitzer leaves Albany to be Attorney General.

But he won't.

Now, if the Dems don't get the Whitehouse in 2008, Souzzi won't need to care, GOP checkmate.

by dereau 2006-03-04 01:57PM | 0 recs

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Suozzi Could Have Run for Attorney General

Suozzi was encouraged to run for Spitzer's current job, Attorney General. A lot of people, including me, are unhappy with main candidates, Mark Green and Andrew Cuomo. Suozzi would have been in a very strong position to win it. As Spitzer has shown, it is an excellent launching board to higher office. I suspect Suozzi will regret his decision not to run for that office.

by John Mills 2006-03-03 02:58PM | 0 recs

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I'm A Big Spitzer Fan

Suozzi is a big opportunistic sleaze. I hope he and his phony rhetoric go down in flames.

by gatordemocrat 2006-03-03 04:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: NY-Gov: More Trouble For Suozzi

I would be to differ that he's a "promising Democrat." He might have been once, but what he's doing now, and his coy lead up to this campaign, mean that, to me, and most of my friends, he's no longer a Democrat. It doesn't matter what he does after his inevitable throttling by Spitzer. He's revealed himself to have a level of guile and ego that means that I'd never support him for anything.

Too, even if he weren't a mercenary scumbag, it's time the city had an advocate. I'm tired of the disparity of things like education funding and mta money.

Myself, the day Suozzi finally announced, I gave my second donation to Spitzer.

Perhaps Suozzi can go over to CT and take Lieberman's place when he finally steps down.

by Majority Report 2006-03-04 07:34AM | 0 recs

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Re: NY-Gov: More Trouble For Suozzi

Suozzi will take the donations from all the Wall Street firms that Spitzer went after.

Like say, "First American Title Insurance"

Suicide Bomber alert

by dereau 2006-03-04 02:10PM | 0 recs