It’s early days yet, but New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer appears set to clock whoever opposes him in this year’s gubernatorial election.
Spitzer outpolls both the leading Republican candidate and his potential Democratic rivals by at least 50 points. The man once inexplicably thought to be among his stronger opponents, carpetbagging Republican William Weld, dropped out of the race today after falling well behind Republican John Faso, a former state legislature minority leader. The setback may put paid Weld’s presidential ambitions as well.
None of Spitzer’s rivals polls better than 15% against him among all voters, and he splits the Republican vote with Faso; unless he’s caught in a compromising position with a barnyard animal, Spitzer — who holds a 20:1 fundraising advantage over Faso — looks set for one of the more lopsided open gubernatorial election victories in New York history. The gap may close somewhat between now and election day, but given the recent tendency toward self-destruction among Republican candidates in New York, it could equally well widen.
Spitzer’s campaign spokeswoman described the poll results as encouraging.
