Schumer won't run for Governor

[YRABNNRM]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-11-15-schumer_x.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday he has ruled out a run for New York governor in 2006 and instead will head the Democratic Party's effort to win seats in the Senate.

Schumer agreed to head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and take a seat on the powerful Finance Committee, nixing the possibility of a 2006 gubernatorial campaign, a race which could have pitted him in a primary against state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

The current New York governor, Republican George Pataki, has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2008.

Schumer, in a telephone interview, said accepting a position in Democratic leadership was easy, especially when it was coupled with the spot on Finance and the added influence of affecting New York's business climate.

"Frankly, I never really had to give it much thought," the senator said. "This was just an offer of my dreams ... The Finance Committee is something I aspired to be on. It's the most powerful committee and has jurisdiction over so many things that matter to New York, tax and trade."

Schumer sounded philosophical when discussing the choice, saying the speculation about his ambitions for the governor's job never reflected his thinking. "I've been a legislator my whole life, it's what I know how to do. I know people didn't believe me, but Senate was the only thing on my radar screen," he said.

Schumer, who easily won re-election Nov. 2, telephoned incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sunday night to accept the offer.

In taking the new positions, Schumer agreed to "see the DSCC job through the 2006 election and run for no other office."

Schumer said Reid pledged that the new job would also come with added responsibility for shaping the message of the Democratic Party. He is expected to begin in the new position in January, replacing Sen. Jon Corzine of New Jersey.

Republicans gained seats in the November election and will hold 55 when new members are sworn in this January. Democrats will have 44 seats with one Democratic-leaning independent.

Well thats good...I'd rather have Spitzer than Schumer since the governors seat will probably go Dem.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Spitzer is now a shoo-in.

[Ben.]

Spitzer is now a shoo-in.

Probably

I though Schumer said this a while ago?

[YRABNNRM]

Spitzer is now a shoo-in.

Probably

I though Schumer said this a while ago?

Nope, up until now he kept saying stuff like "The only thing I'm focusing on now is being a good senator" or "We'll see in the future" and stuff like that.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Future governor Sptizer may be on a national ticket sometime next decade.

[Ben.]

Spitzer is now a shoo-in.

Probably

I though Schumer said this a while ago?

Nope, up until now he kept saying stuff like "The only thing I'm focusing on now is being a good senator" or "We'll see in the future" and stuff like that.

Gottcha... sorry.

[Defarge]

Spitzer vs. Pataki or Giuliani.

It'll be a close one

[Erc]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

[Defarge]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

I think you're being overely pessemistic about Pataki.  He has a very good chance of winning reelection in '06.  It'll be very close between Spitzer and Pataki.

[Erc]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

I think you're being overely pessemistic about Pataki.  He has a very good chance of winning reelection in '06.  It'll be very close between Spitzer and Pataki.

Probably...I've just never held a very high opinion of Pataki for whatever reason.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

I think you're being overely pessemistic about Pataki.  He has a very good chance of winning reelection in '06.  It'll be very close between Spitzer and Pataki.

Spitzer would easily beat Pataki.
Spitzer would beat Guilani in a close race.
Anyone else, and it's a Spitzer landslide.

[patrick1]

The more of Spitzer you see the less you will like of him.  He has hopped on the enron scandals and rode it to the political bank.  He has tried to defame some compnies and missed.  He is not the democrats answer, he is an opportuninist.

[Ben.]

The more of Spitzer you see the less you will like of him.  He has hopped on the enron scandals and rode it to the political bank.  He has tried to defame some compnies and missed.  He is not the democrats answer, he is an opportuninist.

I've never seen him as anything other than a good attack dog, he will become Governor or a Senator some day (probably in 2006) but i don't see him getting any further... he'd be better suited to being a Governor thought, i would have thought.   

[Defarge]

The more of Spitzer you see the less you will like of him.  He has hopped on the enron scandals and rode it to the political bank.  He has tried to defame some compnies and missed.  He is not the democrats answer, he is an opportuninist.

Spitzer may be ambitious, but if he helps destroy the fraud on Wall Street, what difference does it make?  Spitzer has done alot for NY.  Even today, you hear him taking out this corrupt insurance official, or that business executive.  Political oppurtunism?  I say ensuring an honest business world.

[Erc]

Elliot Spitzer is the Tom Dewey of the 21st Century.

Except that he's a Democrat.  And clean-shaven.

[KEmperor]

Spitzer is like Edwards, but not as likeable.

[King]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

I think you're being overely pessemistic about Pataki.  He has a very good chance of winning reelection in '06.  It'll be very close between Spitzer and Pataki.

Spitzer would easily beat Pataki.
Spitzer would beat Guilani in a close race.
Anyone else, and it's a Spitzer landslide.

Jfern, what do you know about New York politics?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think Pataki's run his luck out in Albany.  He's either got to take Hillary's seat, or pull out of politics to prepare for an (ultimately futile) bid to take the Presidency.

I think you're being overely pessemistic about Pataki.  He has a very good chance of winning reelection in '06.  It'll be very close between Spitzer and Pataki.

Spitzer would easily beat Pataki.
Spitzer would beat Guilani in a close race.
Anyone else, and it's a Spitzer landslide.

Jfern, what do you know about New York politics?

A lot