By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Now Governor George Pataki has declared he won't seek re-election in 2006, several candidates are ready to take his place. State GOP leaders meet in Buffalo Thursday to begin making their choice.
Poll numbers have all shown state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat who has announced his candidacy for governor, is wiping up in the governor's race. So, who will the GOP pick to take him on? Some they like aren't interested, including Rudy Gulianni and US Congressman Tom Reynolds. But New York's Secretary of State Randy Daniels would like a shot. So, would former Assemblyman and Buffalo Control Board member John Faso.
Many pundits say it will take a big hitter to beat Eliot Spitzer. But Quinnipiac University pollster Maurice Carroll says don't rule out the little guy.
"You know, people say these are not household names, but suppose you had a three term governor, tremendously popular, running as a possibility for president as he's running against an obscure legislator from Peekskill?" said Carroll. "Well, look what happened. The former legislator from Peekskill is the Governor."
If Republicans do opt for someone with more clout -- and money -- billionaire Tom Golisano could even get a call. Erie County Republican Chair Bob Davis says he isn't ruling anyone out yet. He and other state GOP leaders will interview seven potential candidates later Thursday. They include Daniels and Faso, as well as Rick Lasio, Ed Cox, Jeanine Pirro and John Spencer. And Davis says there are others showing interest. But he says that's okay -- there's no rush.
"My goal would be to try to have consensus by the first part of the year so that the candidate can move around the state and raise the resources that are going to be necessary to run in a state as large as this," said Davis. "It's a state that has 2.3 million more Democrats than Republicans. So, we need as a party to come together behind a candidate and move forward into the campaign process by early in 2006."
Pundits agree that time and money will be crucial for any Republican going up against Spitzer. Poll numbers show him with substantial leads over any current, likely opponent. And with a war chest already packed with about $12 million, he has the resources to possibly hold a lead until the election.