What Hooker Scandal? Spitzer Eyeing A Comeback

After gradually emerging out from under his scandal rock, former Governor Eliot Spitzer has stepped fully into the spotlight, with a sprawling profile in today's Times and the forthcoming issue of Fortune. The magazine interview, by Peter Elkind, is timed with the release of his new book on Spitzer, Rough Justice: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer. In Fortune, Spitzer says a run for office in 2010 is "hard to see," but he also wants everyone to know this: "I've never said I would never consider running for office again."

Spitzer tells Elkind he's "in unceasing agony" and "incredibly frustrated" over no longer being "where I would like to be [i.e., in the Governor's office]. Anybody who says disengaging from it in any way is easy is not being straightforward. Obviously, removing myself the way I did is that much more painful." Spitzer's long road back to public office may begin with a run for New York state comptroller, which, according to Elkind, "he sees a chance to become a national force, wielding the billions held in public pension funds to force corporate reform in a way that even lawsuits and regulation cannot."

"Most people faced with that kind of disgrace would disappear off the face of the earth for a longer period of time," P.R. big shot Howard Rubenstein tells the Times. "But there is a lot of curiosity about him. And he is a publicity steamroller." But according to Rubenstein, a recent Masters of the Universe-type society dinner didn't bode well for Spitzer's return to politics. "Some thought he is making a play to come into elected office," says Rubenstein "That didn’t get a lot of support. But they thought, 'He’s having an influence on policy, so let’s look past that episode in his life and appoint him as an adviser to something. That was the consensus."

In the meantime, Spitzer's keeping his face out there, teaching at City College, lecturing at Harvard about ethics, getting a Colbert bump, opining on love on BigThink.com, and writing a twice-monthly column for Slate. But is another scandal on the horizon? In a shocking lapse, Spitzer revealed to the Times the secret to his column's success: "I keep pressing the button on the Slate column, so it looks like I’m getting a lot of hits." Which may be another thing he has in common with blogger Ashley Dupree.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on April 8, 2010 9:46 AM

Comments [rss]

henryhamilton

He should run for president, all the while chasing whores. I just don't care anywmore.

Guest

his campaign tag: "hookers for all americans!"

NannyState

Lapdances for everyone, the ultimate stimulus!

Mr. Shankly

Clinton, Ike, JFK, FDR, etc etc.

No news here.

Gotham Extremist

Kobe, Tiger, Jesse, Tiki....... what else is new?

Papercutninja

+1

ProudLiberal1947

I see the Right Wing Hate and Fear Mongering machine is already running scared on Mr. Spitzer. Funny how these Clowns (taking into consideration they are White Trailer Trash), over look Va governor sanford Duh! Appalachian Trail hike , hee,hee, really South American hot babe and its another GUYS Wife its called FAMILY VALUES Oh Yeah and the you have NAVADA Sen. ensign, again FAMILY values another guys Wife and a PAY OFF to keep it quite, Lets not forget Sen craig and the public restroom wide leg stance and hand signals yes again Family Values and RIGHT WING NUTTERY.

Mr. Spitzer was SETUP by WALL STREET because he took these SCUM BAGS down oh yeah with all the NOISE from the CRAZIES on the RIGHT this guy used his OWN MONEY hahahaha, and he was NOT convicted of anything.

So Mr. Spitzer I would love to see you as a SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, in this Banking Scandal and send these Worthless Scum and Trash to JAIL.

That my friends is what the WACKED OUT RIGHT is REALLY AFRAID OF.

longacre

He might have been ratted out by Wall St, but he wasn't set up.

Papercutninja

Yeah. Even if he was "setup" by Wall Street to get caught, it was still his own choice to go to prostitutes. I personally don't think it interferes with his ability to govern, but it does raise some ethical issues.

hotstepper

"Well politicians got lipstick on the collar

the whole media started to holler

but I don’t give a fuck who they screwin’ in private

I wanna know who they screwin’ in public"

Gregoire

The evil you know is better than the evil you don't know.

Phil

Sex scandal? So what. Bring this guy back.

citybug

Amen!

Angelheaded Hipster

his governship was a debacle from beginning to end---remember that he was a complete failure at the time the scandal came out ---accomplished nothing. he borrowed money from his daddy to run, lied about it, and then went to albany like some kind of deranged egomaniac (im a steamroller?)

Trilby16

Dear Eliot-

Please consider never running for office again.

Sincerely,

The Electorate

Kojak

He's certainly damaged goods and will have a very rough time running for anything. His indiscretions made sure of that.

But, if his polling suggests he has a good chance...

Because of the States scandalous & dysfunctional government, I'm willing to believe that New Yorkers give him a pass. Despite his faults, he's not a bungling twit as Paterson is. He knows how shit works.

Trilby16

Kojak- Like money? I still have questions about all the money he spent on hookers. Surely there has got to be another choice besides the two evils of Paterson and Spitzer.

Proudliberal- he was not "set up." he actually did those things, willingly and enthusiastically.

NannyState

When you have enough personal wealth, no one cares "where the money came from" because you can always write a check. The real issue was how he could put his own "needs" ahead of the business of NYS. When you become Governor, you become property of the people and unless you're willing to share all the goodness, you'd best stick to stroking Sheldon Silver's feet under the table.