Posted on 04/27/2005 5:49:27 AM PDT by areafiftyone
(1010 WINS) (ALBANY) Republican Gov. George Pataki said Tuesday that while he already has ``the greatest job there is in America,'' he would not rule out a run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.
``I'm not ruling it out,'' Pataki told reporters over lunch at an Albany restaurant, adding after a pause, ``Not at all.''
Pataki said while he was not thinking about becoming a presidential candidate, ``at this point, ... certainly there's going to be a new candidate for president in my party in 2008 and I want to be part of the policy debate involved around that.''
The three-term New York governor made light of a report last week in the Des Moines Register newspaper that some of his political operatives had been nosing around Iowa, traditional site of the first presidential caucuses.
``It's spring. They're trying to get some tips on how to better grow corn and hay for my farm on Lake Champlain'' in northern New York near the Canadian border.
The New York governor, who said he wants to ``be part of the national debate,'' said he has had discussions with President Bush about the political future.
``That's about as specific as I'd like to get,'' Pataki said, also declining to say if he had been offered jobs in the Bush administration.
There were unconfirmed reports earlier this year that White House officials had reached out to Pataki to gauge his interest in becoming U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The governor, however, had said publicly that he had no interest in the job. Bush has since nominated John Bolton, but he is facing trouble winning confirmation in the Senate.
Pataki said he would make a decision about seeking a fourth, four-year term ``within the next few months'' because ``if I run I want to make sure I have the time to put my team together and if I choose not to run I want to make sure our party has the opportunity to go through a thorough process and have a good candidate who has plenty of time to get known.''
While most speculation in New York political circles in recent weeks has focused on Pataki not running for a fourth term, he said Tuesday that he loved the job and ``in no way am I tired with the job, or am I in any way lacking of energy or commitment or vision for the future.''
Only the late Republican Nelson Rockefeller has won four, four-year terms as governor of New York and recent polls have shown Pataki trailing far behind state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a Democratic candidate for governor.
Pataki's comments, at a lunch with reporters who regularly cover him, came on the same day that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld said he might run for governor of New York if Pataki didn't seek re-election. Republican Weld moved back to his native New York in 2000.
While Pataki praised Weld, he said there were other fine potential candidates, including his own lieutenant governor, Mary Donohue.
``If I don't run, I may very well'' back her for governor, he said. ``I think she's been an excellent partner.''
Asked about why he had decided to have lunch with reporters, a very rare event, Pataki said, ``I enjoy this type of thing.''
of course we can- lets start a movement here on FR!!
I think she HAS TO say she is not running (now) because she JUST got the job as sec of state, and she didnt want the next 4 years to be seen as her campaign
The GOP nominee in 2008 is going to be Senator George Allen of Virginia -- I don't think there is a better, more solid candidate than Allen.
LOL
A New England socialist, NEVER.
I agree, George Allen or Condi - or George Allen and Condi - or - Condi and George Allen.
I am sorry but we can not afford the Fiscal policies of Rice or Allen.We need a true conservative in 2008,Mike Pence Chairman of the RSC.
Compared to the list of losers we have now, I wish we could get Slim Pickens to run.
Isn't he dead though?
No matter, he'd still be better than Pataki, Romney, Frist Guliani, McManiac and the rest of the Rino herd.
What's the difference between him and Hillary?
Gun Grabber, right?
Allen is from where?
Sorry it's a common name and I don't get the context.
"The GOP nominee in 2008 is going to be Senator George Allen of Virginia "
That's what I'm starting to think, but I don't know squat about him.
Spitzer is so dirty it will make great headlines.
Allen's strength is that he's a former governor (and current U.S. Senator) from a southern state, and he's a fairly young, good-looking guy. He also wears cowboy boots as a matter of course.
If these all sound like superficial qualities, it's because they are. We're dealing with voters who haven't cared very much about substance in almost 50 years.
Condi isn't running and she isn't acceptible. She's "mildly pro-choice." The base will stay home and let Hillary have it if the Rinos give us someone like Condi.
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