Eliot Spitzer

Seen with New York Governor Eliot Spitzer this morning, just prior to his announcement that he will resign on March 17, was criminal defense attorney Ted Wells, a New Jersey resident who has played a key role in state Democratic politics for years. Wells has represented several prominent politicians as they faces legal battles, including U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, and Scooter Libby, Vice President Richard Cheney’s former Chief of Staff.

Eliot Spitzer raised $1,535,685 from New Jersey donors during his 2006 campaign for Governor of New York, not including New Jersey residents who may have contributed using a New York business address. Click here to view the list of Spitzer's Garden State contributors.

When it comes to covering a political sex scandal, it’s important to have someone from New Jersey on your team. Maybe that’s why The New York Times brought in New Jersey reporter David Chen as part of the team that began working the Eliot Spitzer prostitution story since yesterday afternoon. And Steve Kornacki, who covered the withdrawal of U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli in 2002 and the resignation of Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2004, is the point man for the New York Observer's coverage of the Spitzer scandal.

Gov. Jon Corzine has not spoken to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer today, according to his spokesman, and released a short statement: "These are serious and disturbing accusations that are completely at odds with the man I know. They come as a complete shock,” Corzine said. “As the governor said, his actions are a clear violation of his own sense of right and wrong. He will have to regain credibility not only with his family but with the public."

When Governor James E. McGreevey resigned in August, 2004, there was some talk of a November, 2004 Special Election to fill the remaining fourteen months of his term. McGreevey waited three months to actually leave office, eliminating the chances of an election; that allowed Richard Codey to complete his term. The New York Constitution is different: if a Governor resigns, the elected Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term. If Eliot Spitzer were to resign, Lt. Gov. David Paterson would become Governor and serve until January 2011.

In a radio address this afternoon, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said he needs time with his family in the wake of a New York Times report that he is connected to a prostitution ring. 

The Democratic governor said he would take no questions from the press. "I will report back to you in short order," Spitzer said.

Gov. Jon Corzine's deputy press secretary Jim Gardner said Corzine had not spoken to Spitzer today.

Jon Corzine raided Eliot Spitzer’s staff today, nominating David Szuchman as the new state Director of Consumer Affairs.  Szuchman serves as Senior Counsel in Spitzer’s appointments office, and worked for Spitzer as an Assistant New York Attorney General.  He says he’ll move to New Jersey if he’s confirmed.

Vilified by the local press, which in New York includes television, Governor Eliot Spitzer has a 48%-37% job approval rating, according to a poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University.  These are Spitzer's worst numbers since taking office eleven months ago, but they are still slightly better than his neighbor, Governor Jon Corzine.  A Quinnipiac poll this week had Corzine's approvals at 44%-43%.

As a point of comparison, Corzine’s Quinnipiac numbers after his first eleven months in office (December 2006) was 49%-32% -- just a little better than Spitzer.