Pataki 2008?

[YRABNNRM]

PATAKI EYEING PREZ BID IN 2008
By FREDRIC U. DICKER

"August 23, 2004 -- Gov. Pataki, who will introduce President Bush at the Republican National Convention next week, may run for president himself in 2008, sources said yesterday.
One source quoted William Plunkett, a prominent Westchester lawyer and one of the governor's oldest friends, as confiding that Pataki "is definitely thinking" about running for president in 2008.

"He says this thing about the presidency is real," the source told The Post.

And Newsweek, quoting an unnamed source, reported that the governor recently huddled with longtime advisors Arthur Finkelstein and Charles Gargano to discuss a potential presidential run in 2008.

Aides to the governor have long promoted Pataki as a presidential candidate.

They did so during the 1996 GOP convention — just two years after he defeated Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo — and again in early in 2000, when Pataki conducted a whirlwind national speaking tour aimed at testing the presidential waters.

Newsweek noted that Pataki has been raising funds for President Bush across the country in recent months, and quoted a Pataki adviser as saying, "He's going to be moving around the country and whatever that leads to, it leads to." Many state and national Republicans contend that Pataki's strong support for abortion and gay rights, strict gun control, state-run public utilities, rent control and ever-growing state spending and borrowing would make him unattractive to GOP core voters.

"Pataki would have many obstacles to overcome, but he has political skills and fund-raising abilities in his favor," said longtime Democratic political consultant Philip Friedman.

Pataki could also face a stiff challenge from another high-profile New Yorker known to be eyeing the presidency in 2008: Rudy Giuliani."

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/29295.htm

It was also featured in Newsweek today....thoughts?

[RReagan4EVER]

 I think he would be a good President, However I think the GOP could come up with someone much better.

[Keystone Phil]

Please, I ask every Dem and Republican official who is thinking about a 2008 run, to please hold off until after the election when it comes to making comments about it. I know Pataki didn't do the commenting but I hope if he himself is asked, I hope, out of respect for our nominee, he doesn't hint at anything.

Pataki seems to be a good guy but he's leans to the left on social issues. He wouldn't be one of my first choices, that's for sure.

[KEmperor]

Pataki would easily get my vote.  Just the fact that he vetoed the minimum wage hike here in NY puts him very high in my book.

[Keystone Phil]

Pataki would easily get my vote.  Just the fact that he vetoed the minimum wage hike here in NY puts him very high in my book.

But do NYers put him high in their books? Remember, he is up for re-election in 2006 and he'll probably have to face Spitzer. Unless Pataki retires and plans his 2008 run.

[Ats]

I like Pataki and I'd vote for him over Bush or Kerry

[PBrunsel]

If the 2008 Democratic nominee is John Edwards than Pataki will get crushed. If it's Hillary Clinton (not likely) he could win.

[Keystone Phil]

For Pataki to run a serious 2008 campaign, he can't seek re-election as Governor in 2006. Spitzer is going to run and while a Pataki win is not impossible, Pataki will be running against NY's most popular Democrat. Sptizer vs. Pataki - looks like a Spitzer when and therefore chances of a Pataki campaign for the Presidency go right out the window.

[Akno21]

If the 2008 Democratic nominee is John Edwards than Pataki will get crushed. If it's Hillary Clinton (not likely) he could win.

What if it's Kerry?

[HockeyDude]

I don't think he'd get nominated, too liberal for most of the republicans in the parts of the country they do best in.  Even if he did get the nomination, he wouldn't take anything in the Northeast, and wouldn't play as well as Bush in the South.  If it's edwards in 2008, expect someone a with a little more win potential, like Owens.  

[PBrunsel]

If the 2008 Democratic nominee is John Edwards than Pataki will get crushed. If it's Hillary Clinton (not likely) he could win.

What if it's Kerry?

If it's Kerry Pataki won't get nominated. A more "electable" Republican (like Giuliani) will get the nomination.

[© Tweed the Younger]

He has 2 problems:

1. HE's too moderate and wouldn't be nominated.
2. He'd lose his homestate, plus his moderation and region hurts him among tradtional GOP voters.

[A18]

I can't wait until 2008. Primaries are so much better than general elections.

[NYGOP]

I would certainly vote for him. If Kerry wins this election(fat chance) Pataki would probably beat him. If Edwards runs then Edwards wins. Pataki would beat Hillary. It all depends who the Democrat is.

[qwerty]

George Pataki has got my vote.

[Saratoga2DM]

He does not have my vote, I can't think of anything that he has done to benefit NY during his current term.  

[The Duke]

Price and rent controls, pro-choice and anti-gun.  I here Richard Nixon in the background.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Pataki is a lying bastard. Every year he tries to gut TAP, every year the Assembly tells him hell no, and every year he brags about how how he protected TAP.

[shankbear]

My 2 cents worth puts it at Frist/Pataki or Pataki/Frist vs. any Demo. combo.

[Democratic Hawk]

He has 2 problems:

1. HE's too moderate and wouldn't be nominated.
2. He'd lose his homestate, plus his moderation and region hurts him among tradtional GOP voters.

I agree.

Dave

[No more McShame]

No way he wins the nomination.  Most primary voters vote for candidates who stand up for life.  The only pro-abortion candidate who has a prayer would be Giulani because of his leadership abilities.

[A18]

Woah...why do even brand new members have that political compass then in their sigs?

[No more McShame]

Woah...why do even brand new members have that political compass then in their sigs?

Gotta have something

[12th Doctor]

If the 2008 Primary were held today Pataki would get my vote.  Followed by Jim Talent, Norm Coleman, Mit Romney and possibly Liddy Dole; although I think she would be too old, who knows, she would be younger than her husband was when he ran.

Some other good people might come up between now and then, though.  I se Mel Martinez as a good prospect, though he might not be ready for '08.