Clinton, Spitzer Talk Taxes With Voters

CENTRAL ISLIP — Senator Clinton and gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer met for a rare joint campaign appearance yesterday, basking in each other's reflected star power while fielding questions on education, health care and property tax relief.

The meeting was a significant show of political candle power, pairing Mrs. Clinton, a former first lady and likely 2008 presidential candidate, with Mr. Spitzer, the state attorney general known for his crusades against corporate excess.

Addressing a bipartisan group of about 30 Long Island voters, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Spitzer traded compliments while vowing to grease the wheels of the state and federal governments to deliver tax reform and make health care, college tuition and housing more affordable.

"There's no better voice than Senator Clinton for the concerns of New Yorkers," Mr. Spitzer told the gathering. Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking re-election, praised Spitzer as the best attorney general in the country, and said she was eager to work with him as governor.

Both candidates also lived up to their reputation as policy wonks, outlining detailed plans for everything from reducing the state's Medicaid burden to helping families afford to care for elderly relatives.

Mr. Spitzer reiterated his plan to offer middle class New Yorkers $6 billion over three years, saying it was the key to keeping people from moving out of the state.

"We want you to stay here. The only way we're going to persuade you to do that is to bring the tax burden back in balance," Mr. Spitzer said.

His Republican opponent, John Faso, released a statement yesterday warning that Mr. Spitzer's tax plan would offer only short-term relief because it did not cap certain local taxes.

With polls showing Spitzer crushing Mr. Faso and Mrs. Clinton leading her own GOP opponent, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, by a wide margin, the unusual joint appearance was one part mutual admiration society, one part pre-election victory lap. But both candidates said they planned to campaign hard before the November 7 election and were not counting on landslide victories.

The campaign appearance was hosted by Diane and Chuck Doyle, both registered Republicans who live in Suffolk County.

"They weren't glib politicians' answers, they were real answers," said Diane Doyle.