Spitzer et al. Endorse Clinton; Rudy Still Gets Scrutinized
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Assemblymember Ellen Young stated, "Senator Hilary Clinton is the clear choice for Americans concerned with once again gaining the respect of the world. In this critical time, we need a person with the vision and experience to unite the country and bring people together. I am confident that just as we have come together today, So too will the people of the United States in declaring in one voice that Senator Clinton is best fit to be the next President of our great nation." Pictured (l. to r.): Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assemblymember Elllen Young, and Senator Clinton. Photo courtesy Assembly newsroom

Standing on the steps of the statehouse in Albany, Governor Eliot Spitzer and a bevy of Democratic officials from throughout the state on Monday endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for president, giving her a nudge toward the White House.

Meanwhile, New York state's favorite Republican son, Rudy Giuliani, joined his nine GOP rivals for the presidential nomination at their second debate last night, this one in South Carolina.

Surrounding Clinton and Spitzer in Albany were U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, state Comptroller Thomas Di Napoli, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Leading the pep rally, the governor described the gathering as "unified in purpose" in a cause to restore the United States to its position of world leader.

He praised Clinton as "a New Yorker through and through because she has charisma, courage and guts".

Addressing her well-wishers and the crowd of a few thousand, Clinton urged them to be a part of her campaign.

Recent polls show Clinton holding on to the lead she has maintained since the start of the campaign. The surveys show her defeating Giuliani as well as all of her Democratic rivals for the nomination, including Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards.

Clinton scored another major endorsement on Monday in Chicago in Obama's home state as billionaire J.B. Pritzker announced he would head a new grassroots organization called Citizens for Hillary Clinton. Pritzker said the new organization would go into states "where we haven't fully organized" and seek out campaign supporters as well as raise funds.

Pritzker's joining Clinton is significant because his sister, Penny, is Obama's national finance chairwoman. The Pritzkers are Hyatt Hotel heirs and one of the richest families in America.

Obama was endorsed by another top black official, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey.

National polls have Clinton leading Obama, John Edwards and also Al Gore, who hasn't gotten into the race thus far. On the other side of the aisle, she leads U.S. Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

At the debate in South Carolina, one of the main areas of focus was expected to be how Giuliani handled the abortion issue.

The former New York City mayor's latest attempt to clarify his position after the first debate came in a New York Times article on May 12.

In it, Giuliani set down "the two strong beliefs that I have, here are the two pillars of my thinking. I believe abortion is wrong." If he was asked to advise someone who was considering an abortion, "I would tell them not to have the abortion, have the child."

The second pillar that guides his thinking, he says, is that in this country, "when people come to different conclusions about this... about something so very personal.. you give them a level of choice here."

Giuliani continues to get the most scrutiny on his actions during 9/11 and afterward, his relations with Bernard Kerik, whom he chose as New York City police commissioner, and on his private life.

Despite these often negatively slanted observations, Giuliani remains the frontrunner among GOP hopefuls.