Latest Politics  

Latest Posts  |  Archive  | 

Spitzer Might Stump for Clinton 'If This Continues'

by Russell Berman
Tue, 26 Feb 2008 at 4:27 PM

Print

Send

RSS

Share:

Governor Spitzer made a rare foray into campaign surrogate work for Senator Clinton this afternoon, and it may not have gone entirely as planned. At various points during a conference call with reporters, he referenced the possible demise of Mrs. Clinton's campaign, begged off an appearance in Ohio tomorrow, and noted that it was her opponent, Senator Obama, who supported his controversial proposal to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Mr. Spitzer joined Governor Corzine of New Jersey and Governor Strickland of Ohio on the call, which was held to promote an "economic solutions summit" Mrs. Clinton is convening tomorrow in the crucial March 4 primary state. Unlike Messrs. Corzine and Strickland, however, Mr. Spitzer is not headed to Ohio for the event, though he said he hoped to get out on the stump for Mrs. Clinton "maybe later in the week, or next week, if this continues." He did not specify what he meant by "this," but there is a widespread belief that Mrs. Clinton will end her campaign if she does not win Texas and Ohio on Tuesday.

While Mr. Corzine is flying to Ohio just hours after he delivered his budget address earlier today, Mr. Spitzer said he had to stay in New York tomorrow for meetings on his own state's budget, which is due in five weeks. Unlike many other top Clinton supporters, the governor has not left the state to campaign publicly for her, but he defended himself yesterday, citing the advantage of cell phone technology in allowing him to conduct interviews and other surrogate duties from the comfort of the Empire State.

Although the call was designed to trumpet Mrs. Clinton's economic plans to the national press, the first three questioners were all reporters from New York newspapers asking about Mr. Spitzer's role in the campaign. He was even asked about a Democratic debate from October, when Mrs. Clinton hedged on whether she supported Mr. Spitzer's drivers license plan, a moment that many see as the beginning of her downfall. Ultimately, she came out against it. The governor said he had not talked with her specifically about that moment, but he noted: "Barack Obama is for my policy on drivers licenses."

On the substance of the call, Mr. Spitzer touted Mrs. Clinton's efforts to bring jobs to upstate New York. "The metaphor of New York to Ohio works for Hillary," he said, noting that a city like Buffalo was closer to Ohio than it is to New York City.

Related Topics: Dem Primary

Latest Politics Homepage