Friday, January 12, 2007
Spitzer role in LI race criticized Bruno finds fault with partisan push by governor in campaign to fill open seat in State Senate
Newsday AP Story ERROL A. COCKFIELD JR
"ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to endorse Nassau Legis. Craig Johnson today in the Democrat's bid to replace state Sen. Michael Balboni is fomenting hostility between Spitzer and Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.During a meeting this week with Spitzer, the upstate Republican charged that the governor's surrogates were threatening labor leaders into backing Johnson, who is opposed by Republican Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell" Maybe I should send Bruno a copy of "Politics for Dummies"??? Bruno never seemed to have a problem with Pataki meddling in local politics or twisting arms to get republicans elected......."Bruno's spokesman, John McArdle, would not confirm a meeting with Spitzer but said, "Senator Bruno has said he thought the campaign was over and it's time to govern."State GOP chairman Joseph Mondello, who is also the Nassau chairman, echoed those sentiments, saying it was unprecedented in his memory for a governor to sink his hands so deeply into a legislative race. "I just wouldn't expect him to get involved so quickly in the partisan political process," he said." Sure, why would Spitzer as the Head of the Democratic Party in NYS get involved in elections??? Mondello's memory must be starting to go....."An administration source said, "There are some very important issues in this race and the governor plans to be very involved." as he should be.........andy
"ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to endorse Nassau Legis. Craig Johnson today in the Democrat's bid to replace state Sen. Michael Balboni is fomenting hostility between Spitzer and Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.During a meeting this week with Spitzer, the upstate Republican charged that the governor's surrogates were threatening labor leaders into backing Johnson, who is opposed by Republican Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell" Maybe I should send Bruno a copy of "Politics for Dummies"??? Bruno never seemed to have a problem with Pataki meddling in local politics or twisting arms to get republicans elected......."Bruno's spokesman, John McArdle, would not confirm a meeting with Spitzer but said, "Senator Bruno has said he thought the campaign was over and it's time to govern."State GOP chairman Joseph Mondello, who is also the Nassau chairman, echoed those sentiments, saying it was unprecedented in his memory for a governor to sink his hands so deeply into a legislative race. "I just wouldn't expect him to get involved so quickly in the partisan political process," he said." Sure, why would Spitzer as the Head of the Democratic Party in NYS get involved in elections??? Mondello's memory must be starting to go....."An administration source said, "There are some very important issues in this race and the governor plans to be very involved." as he should be.........andy
