ALBANY - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up the formal endorsements of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and most of her other top home-state Democrats on Monday as her presidential campaign made a stop at New York's state Capitol where she was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters.
Spitzer, saying Clinton had “the guts” needed for the job, officially delivered his blessing on the steps of the statehouse under sunny skies where he was joined by Lt. Gov. David Paterson, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, among others.
“Let's put America in a New York state of mind,” Silver suggested, a message that might not play well in some parts of the country.
For her part, Clinton stuck largely to her stump speech during the noon event, blasting the Bush administration repeatedly.
“We have seen a culture of corruption and cronyism for the last six years,” she said to cheers.
She told those on hand to pull out their cell phones at the end of her speech as she unveiled a new way to communicate with her campaign - text messaging.
“If it's new to you, ask for help from somebody, especially a young person who's nearby,” she suggested.
The “favorite daughter” endorsements for Clinton came as one of her chief rivals for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, was in New Jersey picking up the backing of popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who like Obama is considered a rising star among black politicians.
In New York, Clinton has the support of most of the state's top black political leaders, including Paterson, Rep. Charles Rangel, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and current Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. However, some prominent black political leaders, such as Al Sharpton, have remained neutral thus far or, like state Sen. Bill Perkins of Manhattan, have endorsed Obama.
While Clinton was touting her New York support, she had some competition for attention at the state Capitol on Monday from a potential presidential rival - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. While Republican Bloomberg has thus far said he has no plans to enter the 2008 race as an independent candidate, he and some of his advisers keep dropping hints about that.
Bloomberg was visiting the Capitol, officially, to lobby state officials for such things as his “congestion pricing” plan that would charge drivers special fees for entering parts of Manhattan.
Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser said the mayor's visit was scheduled before the Clinton endorsement event. Clinton declined to comment on the mayor as a possible presidential contender.
The state GOP lashed out at Clinton and Spitzer.
“Disregarding the real needs of New York's families on a busy a (legislative) session day, the two public servants wasted the people's time promoting their personal political ambitions,” said state GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello in a statement distributed by the party.
The Clinton camp had worked hard at turning out a big crowd in Albany, sending out e-mail invites urging people to attend.
But state Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat, over the weekend urged fellow Hispanic elected officials to boycott the Clinton event, saying she and other presidential candidates aren't paying enough attention to the Hispanic community.
“We can no longer be expected to energize our base if our leaders and issues are being ignored,” Diaz said in a statement.
The Clinton camp noted that plenty of Hispanic leaders have already lined up with Clinton, including Rep. Jose E. Serrano of the Bronx and his son, state Sen. Jose M. Serrano, and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
And, Clinton's campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, is the first Hispanic women to head a major presidential campaign effort, according to aides.
“We are gratified by our deep support among Hispanic voters, but are taking nothing for granted and working hard for every vote,” said Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff.
Clinton left Albany for a short flight to Syracuse, where she was to join former national Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, a top Clinton campaign official, for a $500-a-person fundraiser at the state fairgrounds.
“Let's put America in a New York state of mind,” Silver suggested, a message that might not play well in some parts of the country.
For her part, Clinton stuck largely to her stump speech during the noon event, blasting the Bush administration repeatedly.
“We have seen a culture of corruption and cronyism for the last six years,” she said to cheers.
She told those on hand to pull out their cell phones at the end of her speech as she unveiled a new way to communicate with her campaign - text messaging.
“If it's new to you, ask for help from somebody, especially a young person who's nearby,” she suggested.
The “favorite daughter” endorsements for Clinton came as one of her chief rivals for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, was in New Jersey picking up the backing of popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who like Obama is considered a rising star among black politicians.
In New York, Clinton has the support of most of the state's top black political leaders, including Paterson, Rep. Charles Rangel, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and current Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. However, some prominent black political leaders, such as Al Sharpton, have remained neutral thus far or, like state Sen. Bill Perkins of Manhattan, have endorsed Obama.
While Clinton was touting her New York support, she had some competition for attention at the state Capitol on Monday from a potential presidential rival - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. While Republican Bloomberg has thus far said he has no plans to enter the 2008 race as an independent candidate, he and some of his advisers keep dropping hints about that.
Bloomberg was visiting the Capitol, officially, to lobby state officials for such things as his “congestion pricing” plan that would charge drivers special fees for entering parts of Manhattan.
Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser said the mayor's visit was scheduled before the Clinton endorsement event. Clinton declined to comment on the mayor as a possible presidential contender.
The state GOP lashed out at Clinton and Spitzer.
“Disregarding the real needs of New York's families on a busy a (legislative) session day, the two public servants wasted the people's time promoting their personal political ambitions,” said state GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello in a statement distributed by the party.
The Clinton camp had worked hard at turning out a big crowd in Albany, sending out e-mail invites urging people to attend.
But state Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat, over the weekend urged fellow Hispanic elected officials to boycott the Clinton event, saying she and other presidential candidates aren't paying enough attention to the Hispanic community.
“We can no longer be expected to energize our base if our leaders and issues are being ignored,” Diaz said in a statement.
The Clinton camp noted that plenty of Hispanic leaders have already lined up with Clinton, including Rep. Jose E. Serrano of the Bronx and his son, state Sen. Jose M. Serrano, and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
And, Clinton's campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, is the first Hispanic women to head a major presidential campaign effort, according to aides.
“We are gratified by our deep support among Hispanic voters, but are taking nothing for granted and working hard for every vote,” said Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff.
Clinton left Albany for a short flight to Syracuse, where she was to join former national Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, a top Clinton campaign official, for a $500-a-person fundraiser at the state fairgrounds.
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L.Davis wrote on May 20, 2007 6:33 PM: