Suozzi Poised To Challenge Spitzer
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MINEOLA, N.Y. – Fresh from a landslide re-election victory in Nassau County – once one of the country’s foremost Republican strongholds – Thomas Suozzi appears poised to cash in his political capital by challenging Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Although a relative unknown, Mr. Suozzi’s dreams of launching from the county executive’s seat in Mineola to the governor’s mansion in Albany could get a boost of rocket fuel if the billionaire founder of Home Depot, Ken Langone, follows through on his promise to pump millions into a Suozzi primary challenge. Mr. Langone is a Spitzer foe who has tangled with the politician over his Wall Street crackdown.
“Maybe that Wall Street money will win him some recognition,” the director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, Maurice Carroll, said. Mr. Carroll said it was unlikely Mr. Suozzi would be discouraged by a poll last month that showed Mr. Spitzer – the two-term state attorney general – holding a commanding 69-11 lead over his potential challenger. The primary is not until September.
