Former Governor Eliot Spitzer took his continuing public image rehabilitation image campaign to PIX News Closeup with Marvin Scott. Client #9 insisted to Scott, "I don't have any thoughts about running for political office right now. It is not what I am doing.... People have been encouraging me to run for office. I am flattered,and I'm thankful. It feels nice, but it's not happening," adding for emphasis, "I'm not running for comptroller."
When Scott pointed out that Spitzer has been out and about lately—even cooperating with a documentary about his downfall—Spitzer said, "When it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck... but every duck doesn't run for office, you know." He didn't have anything quacky to say about his love of prostitutes, "There is simply no good answer... you err, you sin, you fail and have lack of judgment. I had a flaw and failed. There is no way to explain or rationalize or justify." Spitzer also seemed grateful for his "wonderful" marriage and "stupendous wife."
As for his successor, Governor David Paterson, Spitzer didn't want to directly address his troubled leadership but said, "David has struggled to do what is right. He has made some missteps... I don't believe in hindering somebody who is still in office." (Is it hindering to tell the NY Times one's doubts about Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's potential as governor?) Anyway, Spitzer wants you to know this: "Here's what I hope people will remember: I fought my heart out for them. I fought every battle trying to preserve the public interest. That is what I care about." Aww.
