Spitzer Delays Decision On Changing Primary Date

ALBANY — Bucking a national trend, Governor Spitzer is approaching with caution a plan supported by state lawmakers to move New York's presidential primary forward to February 5, the day California, Illinois, Texas, Florida, and a slew of other states are considering holding the contests.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Spitzer, Christine Anderson, said the governor would like to "study" the issue before deciding whether to support an earlier primary, a move that has attracted bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Mr. Spitzer's hesitation stands in contrast to the strengthening national push toward front-loading the primary calendar, as states that have traditionally played a marginal role in the nominating process seek to become presidential kingmakers. In California, Governor Schwarzenegger is enthusiastically backing legislation to move the state's primary to February 5, saying the switch would make California "relevant."

Mr. Spitzer has other political concerns to consider. The longer he waits to decide whether to move the date, the more he invites questions about his position on Senator Clinton, who has yet to receive Mr. Spitzer's endorsement.

Political analysts say bumping the primary date in New York to February 5 from the set date of March 4 would likely play to the advantage of the state's two major White House hopefuls, Mayor Giuliani and Mrs. Clinton, offering them a good chance to seize a chunk of delegates early in the nominating cycle. A February 5 primary comes with its own risks: A failure to meet high expectations in a hometown state could have a devastating effect on the rest of the race.

Aides to Mrs. Clinton said the candidate has not publicly or privately expressed an opinion on an earlier primary day. A source close to Mr. Spitzer, however, said the Clinton camp has been more than clear about her preference. "Of course, they want him to support it," the source said.

For the Spitzer administration, there seems to be little rush to shuffle the political calendar, despite the political pressure. Sources say Mr. Spitzer hasn't made up his mind about whether bumping up the primary would help the New York senator and he isn't sure if securing February 5 — the earliest day that most states may hold primaries according to national party rules — would make New York any more influential, especially if the state becomes one in a crowd.

Mr. Spitzer could be waiting for other large states to make their move before he proceeds. By keeping his options open, he also preserves a bargaining chip that could come in handy in his dealings with the national Democratic Party.

Mr. Spitzer, who is widely believed to harbor presidential ambitions, also must be considering the impact an earlier date would have on his own chances in six or 10 years.

"It's not just about Hillary," said a Democratic political consultant, Hank Sheinkopf, who was an adviser to President Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and also worked for Mr. Spitzer's first successful bid for attorney general in 1998. "To presume that's how he's thinking about it is wrong. He's thinking about it in a larger context."