In a column at Newsday, Lawrence Levy argues (again) that Gov. Spitzer is making a mistake by getting personally involved in the SSD 7 special election. Levy suggests that the Balboni appointment, coupled with Spitzer's direct involvement in the Craig Johnson campaign, could "alienate lawmakers" and "make him seem like Gov. Machiavelli when he is pushing a new spirit of bipartisanship in Albany."

I'm not naive, and I am a big fan of Spitzer. I know he is the head of his party and has a responsibility to its candidates. But he was elected to be something different. He also was elected with help from a lot of Republicans who, along with Democrats, voted for many GOP legislative candidates.

Now Spitzer is running the risk of seeming like too much of the same-old partisan - which he isn't.

In other circumstances - if this were some Assembly seat, or if the balance of power weren't at stake, or if Spitzer hadn't been elected with a clear mandate - there might be some truth to this, but given the current context it's ridiculous. That mandate wasn't just to be fuzzily "nonpartisan," it was to accomplish certain specific reforms.

Spitzer was elected as a Democrat, not as a "Nonpartisan." He is right to have the courage of his convictions and make the case that a Democratic Senate is more likely to be a constructive partner in implementing his agenda.

Levy's point is not just philosophical, but practical. He argues that Spitzer is taking a political risk which could weaken him and cripple his ability to work with the GOP-held Senate:

But in a race with two quality candidates, Spitzer is putting a huge amount of political credibility and capital on the line. If he wins, Republicans may be a bit more fearful of him, yes, but they will still be in control of the Senate, and they will be angrier. Spitzer may yet need Bruno as an ally: Curiously, the Republicans are more likely than Democrats to back Spitzer's plan to cut property taxes and Medicaid and other social programs. So what has Spitzer gained by taking on Bruno over one seat?

Never mind that 1199 just endorsed the Republican precisely because they expect the GOP to oppose Medicaid cuts.

What would really make Spitzer look weak would be if he failed to try to take advantage of an opportunity, in a district where his party has a registration advantage, to help blow the mummified remains of the Republican Party out of the Senate majority. He should hold back because he might "anger" Bruno? Old Horse and G-String Bruno? For Spitzer to cringe in the face of a GOP leadership so clearly in its last throes would be the weakest thing he could possibly do.

New York is a majority Democratic state, and SSD 7 is a majority Democratic district. We elected a Democratic Governor. He has every right to ask voters for a Democratic Senate.

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