The NY Post reports [1]:
January 12, 2006 -- ALBANY — Republican leaders are secretly discussing endorsing Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi for governor — even as Suozzi plans to announce tomorrow that he'll challenge Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination, The Post has learned.
Republican emissaries have already approached Suozzi about switching parties in order to enter the governor's race, party insiders said yesterday — and Suozzi himself confirmed it.
"I told them I was a Democrat," Suozzi said when asked about the offer.
Suozzi will announce formation of an "exploratory committee" to raise funds to run for governor against Attorney General Spitzer tomorrow. He repeatedly refused to say if he would consider remaining a Democrat while still running for governor on the Republican line.
That's the scenario influential GOP activists want to pursue.
"Suozzi is a proven vote-getter with Democrats and Republicans in the suburbs, and he could be a real threat to Spitzer running as a Democrat on the Republican ticket," said a top GOP insider.
Former state GOP Executive Director Brendan Quinn said of a possible Suozzi candidacy, "An Italian Catholic Democrat from Nassau County would have real appeal to suburban voters, who are typically Republican."
True, the crop on the other side – Weld and the weakly wannabes – doesn't look too promising. But really, guys, can't you at least put up a fight? Or is Spitzer paranoia [2] really that widespread?
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