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Suozzi says he won't quit Democratic Party

BY ERROL A. COCKFIELD JR. | NEWSDAY ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

March 7, 2006

ALBANY - Confronting persistent speculation that he might be endorsed by Republicans, Democratic Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi made it clear yesterday that he would not run for governor on the Republican line.

"I will not change my registration as a Democrat," Suozzi said, after speaking to the state School Boards Association at a local hotel. "... I am running in a Democratic primary for governor of the state of New York."

On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) said Republicans were flirting with the idea of cross-endorsing Suozzi in the governor's race, but Bruno said it was very unlikely.

Some of that talk has been the result of Suozzi's willingness to accept support from members of other parties. In January, he said he would welcome cross-endorsements from other parties, including the GOP, because a mix of political support has been key to his victories in Nassau County.

Yesterday, Suozzi campaign manager Kimberly Devlin called the possibility of cross-endorsement by Republicans a "crazy hypothetical notion" that had been promoted by the campaign of state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who is also seeking the Democratic nod for governor.

Spitzer campaign manager Ryan Toohey dismissed any suggestion that Spitzer has played any role in spreading the idea.

"Eliot Spitzer and his campaign are not giving orders to Joe Bruno and to suggest we are is completely laughable," Toohey said.

Spitzer, who is well ahead of Suozzi in the polls, has said he would accept neither the support of Republican Party leadership, nor the party's nomination, for governor. However, he has accepted and will continue to accept the endorsements of individual party members. His surrogates have also called the county executive a disloyal Democrat for his willingness to accept such endorsements.

But yesterday Suozzi sought to defend his approach.

"I am seeking support from Republicans and Independents and everybody else who's a registered voter," he said. "I appeal to people across party lines ... because they want their problems solved."