Bruno Says Spitzer Is ‘Hypocritical' to Attend Candidate's Fund-Raiser

ALBANY — The Republican leader of the state Senate lashed out at Governor Spitzer yesterday, saying it was hypocritical of the governor to attend a $25,000-a-person fund-raiser for a Democratic Long Island state Senate candidate even while calling for stricter campaign finance laws.

"It's very inappropriate and some people say hypocritical," Senator Joseph Bruno said of Mr. Spitzer's decision to participate in the fund-raiser Craig Johnson, according to the Associated Press. Mr. Johnson, a Nassau County legislator, is running against the Republican Nassau County clerk, Maureen O'Connell, in a special election to fill a vacated seat.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Bruno also suggested that people close to the governor have made threatening phone calls to labor groups that have endorsed Ms. O'Connell, such as the health care union SEIU 1199.

The comments were the sharpest criticism that Mr. Bruno has leveled against Mr. Spitzer since the governor took office on January 1. Mr. Bruno had described their relationship as a "love fest."

The fund-raiser, which is taking place today at an undisclosed home in Manhattan, is being organized by the state Democratic Party, which is not restricted in how much it can transfer to Mr. Johnson's campaign.

Mr. Spitzer came into office pledging, among other changes, to tighten restrictions on campaign contributions and calling for public financing of campaigns.

Last month, he announced that he is imposing on himself a $10,000 limit on campaign contributions from individuals, LLCs, unions, and other entities during an election cycle. The legal limit for statewide candidates in New York is $50,100. The governor has yet to propose campaign restrictions for legislators.

Mr. Spitzer spent $33 million in the governor's race, about 10 times more than his Republican opponent, John Faso.

"Eliot is asking people of the district to support reform, and he's proud of those efforts," a spokeswoman for Mr. Spitzer, Christine Anderson, said. A Spitzer official said the governor believes it's proper for both candidates to campaign under existing finance laws.

Mr. Bruno's future as leader of the Republican-controlled senate and de facto leader of the state party could depend on his ability to lead his party to victory in the February 6 special election. Weakened by a federal investigation into his business interests, the 77-year-old Rensselaer County senator is under pressure to prove his political viability as Democrats seek to further chip away at his party's hold on the Senate. Republicans hold a three-seat advantage.

Mr. Spitzer hasn't made things any easier for Mr. Bruno. He purloined one of the Senate's most popular Republicans, Michael Balboni, appointing him to be his homeland security chief. The governor is throwing his weight behind Mr. Johnson, appearing in a television ad, headlining a major fund-raiser, and lining up other forms of support.