Eliot Spitzer Gets Teamsters Endorsement

[cal04]

With Republican George Pataki not seeking a fourth term, the Teamsters union handed its endorsement Thursday for the 2006 governor's race to state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Democrat Spitzer announced late last year that he was running for governor. Pataki, who had the Teamsters endorsement for the 2002 election, said Wednesday he would not run for re-election.

A statement from the New York State Teamster Alliance, representing about 170,000 active Teamsters from around the state and 50,000 retirees, said ``the official endorsement is an early and important sign of organized labor's support for the attorney general, with more major union support expected for Spitzer in coming months.''
The endorsement came at a meeting of the Teamsters New York leadership being held in Lake George.

``I look forward to working with the statewide labor community to create new and exciting opportunities for New York's working people and to build an economic model that does not let them down,'' Spitzer said. Pataki engineered a third-term victory over then-state Comptroller H. Carl McCall by, among other things, snaring a host of endorsements from labor unions, including the Teamsters and the 300,000-member Local 1199, the health care unit in New York of the Service Employees International Union.

The two unions also endorsed Andrew Cuomo for attorney general. The former federal housing secretary and elder son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo is one of a host of Democrats seeking the 2006 nomination. Also vying for the job are: New York City Public Advocate Mark Green; state Assemblymen Richard Brodsky of Westchester County and Michael Gianaris of Queens; former U.S. Attorney Denise O'Donnell of Buffalo; housing advocate Charlie King of Rockland County; and former Clinton administration aide Sean Patrick Maloney of Manhattan.

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_209171956.html

[napi21]

1. OH, would I LOVE to see Spitzer be the Gov. of NY!!!!

I don't live in NY, but I sure am a Spitzer fan!

GOOD LUCK Elliott!!!!!!!!!!

[Nite Owl]

2. One of the reasons that Pataki

decided not to run again was the numbers. Spitzer has been consistently well ahead of him. He spoke at the Press Club a few months ago and the guy that introduced him said he was at 61% approval and that was just among NY Republicans. He stands a real good chance but NY politics is pretty down and dirty so we will have to work for him.

[napi21]

3. I don't live in NY, but I'll do everything for him that I can.

I don't have much money, so I can't be more than a $5 contributor, but just tell me what I can do other than that, and I'm here for him!

[Nite Owl]

4. I think he's ok with the money

he's been set up for a while now so others will need it more. I'll keep you posted.

[Nite Owl]

5. I'm going to see Andrew Cuomo

at a Dem barbeque on Sunday. Wish Eliot was going to be there!