|
 Polls showed Spitzer and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in a close race heading into Tuesday's Democratic primary for city comptroller. Since Spitzer's abrupt July decision to run, the two have been headlocked in one of the fiercest political wrestling matches in the city this year.
Seeking a comeback five years after resigning as governor and acknowledging he patronized call girls, Spitzer said Monday he felt the campaign had gotten voters thinking more about his political record than about his personal conduct.
"That is out there, but the public has said, 'OK, it's there -- we're judging you based on what you did in government,'" he said on WWRL-AM's "Morning Show with Mark Riley."
Stringer is striving to capture a nomination he once expected to snag easily.
"The job of comptroller has to be watching the backs of people. ... I've been out in the streets. I've been working on these issues" while Spitzer has been out of office, Stringer said in a separate interview Monday on Riley's show.
Spitzer, who was never charged with any crime, has asked voters to focus on his record as a hard-charging governor and state attorney general. He was dubbed "the sheriff of Wall Street" for his financial investigations.
Stringer, a former state assemblyman, says he's mastered both fighting for causes and forging compromises during 20 years in public office.
[to top of second column] |
 And he has urged New Yorkers not to forgive or forget his opponent's personal misdeeds.
"I didn't resign in disgrace," Stringer said at a candidate forum last week. Earlier, his campaign sent voters a mailer highlighting Spitzer's involvement with prostitutes and featuring a photo of prison bars.
"If this public wants someone who makes a difference, they know who they're going to vote for," Spitzer responded at the forum, organized by the Council of Urban Professionals, a networking group. Spitzer's aides have sent reporters emails mocking Stringer for proclaiming a Justin Bieber appreciation day last year.
Spitzer had double-digit leads in some polls as recently as two weeks ago. But polls Sunday and Monday variously showed the candidates about even or Stringer slightly ahead.
The winner will face a Republican and other opponents Nov. 5.
[Associated
Press; By JENNIFER PELTZ]
Follow Jennifer Peltz at
http://twitter.com/jennpeltz.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
