George Pataki Presidential Run? It's A Possibility, Says Former Governor

ALBANY, N.Y. — A spokesman for Republican former New York Gov. George Pataki says he's taking a harder look at running for president in 2012.

Spokesman David Catalfamo says several factors are in play for the 66-year-old Pataki.

Pataki says President Barack Obama is faltering and lacks a serious plan to deal with the nation's debt. He also says the Republican field is thin.

He cites his own moderate views that could attract independent voters in the important New Hampshire primary.

New Hampshire voters not enrolled in a party can vote in either party's February primary. With no Democratic primary, more independents could vote in the GOP primary.

Pataki served three terms as governor from 1994 to 2006. He did not seek re-election in 2006 as he briefly considered running for president.

Comments

[Solouno]

08:57 AM on 08/26/2011

Let's not forget that it was Pataki who sipphoned $2B from city schools to give to suburb schools. So no sports teams, music classes, art classes in most city schools, but suburb schools, who had less students, all had these nice activities and classes.

[MIKEinNYC]

09:32 PM on 08/25/2011

He's better than any of the other declared Republican candidates. He did a good, no mickey mouse job here in New York, especially coming on the heels of the worst governor that we ever had.

His big problem is that outside of New York, almost no one has heard of him. On the other hand, when he first ran for governor of New York no one had ever heard of him then either and he still managed to win.

[Ainsi sera groigne qui]

12:45 AM on 08/25/2011

It is offical, the republican party is now hitting the bottom of the barrel if Pataki is the best they can come up with.

[Mayoyo]

07:57 PM on 08/24/2011

Negro please...more boring than TPaw.....

[wrabbitt]

02:12 PM on 08/24/2011

Sarah Palin has fallen out so the republican clown car has one open seat,being from upstate new york I wouldn't mind seeing him go off a cliff with the rest of them.

[LonosCurse]

02:07 PM on 08/24/2011

If you're wondering where's he's been, he was in his basement practicing his smirk.

[NyKeR79]

11:02 AM on 08/24/2011

We had 12 years of this lame duck who was instrumental in delaying the WTC rebuilding, not to mention siphoning off NYS tax dollars to hospitals in Israel. Thanks George but I'll take my chances on someone else.

[MissRoseNylund]

03:44 AM on 08/24/2011

Pataki can put people to sleep after a sentence or 2.

[Mayoyo]

07:57 PM on 08/24/2011

TPaw's twin....

[averagezoe]

08:53 PM on 08/23/2011

Pataki? He considers himself to be moderate, but then even religious zealots have a certain amount of moderation. I noticed all the names you people threw out - Alfred E. Newman? - I suppose I'd like to nominate Bill Maher.

[LonosCurse]

01:41 PM on 08/24/2011

George follows the money.

[Mauirascal]

06:53 PM on 08/23/2011

My prediction...Obama will be re-elected. However, the Republicans will take control of congress by winning the Senate and holding the House...term limits is a distinct advantage to Obama. 2016 will be wide open and a shoo in for the Republicans with control of both houses...providing they live up to their promises made in 2011. Healthcare repeal (reform), tax law overhaul, closed loop holes the lobbyists paid for (in secret), corporate tax reform and welfare reform (again), A leader who can motivate with optimism and by deeds...that person will be the next President! My guess is that we are still a long way off before a woman is in the white house...the voters in 2008 indicated they were ready for a black president but not a woman...such as Hiliary Clinton (an early leader). A win of the Senate will be a victory for the Republicans!

[ebanks84]

10:31 AM on 08/24/2011

There ain't no way in Hades that Obama wins reelection while the republicans win the house and senate. That is a pipe dream and can only happen in another dimension, certainly not this one.

[shellsangels]

11:07 AM on 08/24/2011

Fanned.

[LonosCurse]

01:43 PM on 08/24/2011

You're right, the GOP will not get the Senate and lose a bit fo their majority in the House. The only Republican who can beat Obama died several years ago.

[Channa]

11:46 AM on 08/24/2011

Republicans living up to their promises. That is an fascinating concept!

[ebanks84]

12:42 PM on 08/24/2011

Implausible!

[Mauirascal]

05:02 PM on 08/24/2011

And, I ask youl...which promises that Obama made did he keep? The only one has been found as unconstitutional and is opposed by nearly 70% of the voters. By the way..."an" should have been an "a"...your judgement must be on the same level as your grammar.

[Ruthsgardens]

06:52 PM on 08/23/2011

Anyone here watch C-Span? Anyone here ever read these major bills online? I did and it is a very daunting task.In fact it is grueling.The TARP Bill wasn't so bad.But the Stimulus Bill was sickening.It took me 2 hours a day for 7 days just to read it let alone study or comprehend it.The first whole part of the bill was the creation of committees to oversee the money.Many of these committees were overseeing other committees.All of these committees were to be overseen by the different departments of government.ie(treasury,homeland security,agriculture etc.) My first thought was My God,how many billions of dollars were just spent growing the government to oversee the rest of the money.The healthcare bill was even harder to follow.Because it kept being revised and given a new number.Many americans are going to be pissed when some of these changes go into effect.That part in the speech about "if you already have health coverage,you can keep it and this bill won't affect you." is bull.Come 2014,the middleclass takes the hit.But don't worry about congress's healthcare. Because they put that nice government clause in there that exempts all members of congress,president and vice from the actions of that bill.This is the one thing that americans need removed and be restricted from every bill.This is why nothing gets fixed by either party.They exempt theirselves.Bullcrap.

[ebanks84]

12:45 PM on 08/24/2011

Before any of this takes effect in 2014, it's going to be changed and updated you better believe, as soon as Obama has both the house and senate approval to where he can get what "he" wants instead of settling for what "they" wanted.

[greendayer]

06:43 PM on 08/23/2011

Hardly noteworthy. New York is a mess. Pataki had his chance and kicked the can down the road. Save your money, George. Just because Obama is doing a horrendous job doesn't mean people want you.

[TomMartin]

06:27 PM on 08/23/2011

I can't see him winning the nomination. The Republican primary voters are too right wing. Giuliani couldn't win, and this year Huntsman is not going to win the nomination. It is sad what has happened to the once great party.

[sully36]

06:41 PM on 08/23/2011

Nothing is wrong with the GOP. It is EARLY and we will find a candidate that fullfills Barack's wish of one term... Giuliani ran a terrible campaign. And don't count Huntsman out... relax, it will happen...

[LonosCurse]

01:52 PM on 08/24/2011

"Nothing is wrong with the GOP"

That's what it says in the dictionary under delusional.

[dayzee10]

09:48 PM on 08/23/2011

It has been taken over by the radical, rightwing, christianists qand the top 2% and corporate greed machine protecting t-baggers it is now the Retealibanbaggerican Party

[BillWoodinville]

06:16 PM on 08/23/2011

Also reportedly considering Presidential runs: Bob Dole, Dan Quayle, and the ghost of Alf Landon. Personally, I'm holding out for McCain to give it one more try.

[LonosCurse]

01:54 PM on 08/24/2011

In Santa Barbara, California, someone is giving Ronald Reagan mouth-to-mouth (probably Grover Norquist).

[Bob Macfarlane]

06:09 PM on 08/23/2011

The media will eat him up like they will do any non-Democrat candidate. I have often wondered why Republicans are held to so much or a higher standard than Democrats.

Former Vice-President Dan Quayle was crucified in the press for misspelling the word ‘potato’ while the same press made former President Bill Clinton look like veritable saint after having adulterous sex in the oval office with Monica Lewinski.

Did not someone speak about 57 v. 50 states and forget the age of their two daughters.

Then I found this and it all came together.

I believe there are two reasons for the double standards. First is due to the media being as equally corrupt and immoral as many of the liberal Democrats they support and defend. Secondly, Republicans tend to be more religious and moral than Democrats and therefore their transgressions are not as flagrant as those of others.

[mrtimmaulden]

06:34 PM on 08/23/2011

"more religous and moral" ....as long as that religion is protestant version of christi@nity, and as long as they are DICTATING morality, not behaving so.

[Bob Macfarlane]

06:45 PM on 08/23/2011

What I just quickly counted - - - 4 Baptist, 3 Lutheran, 1 Jewish, 2 Catholics, 2 Methodist and 2 Mormans but if you would prefer to check for yourself

http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Religion.php

And, you say?

[Kwrohan]

09:37 PM on 08/23/2011

Have you been on Mars?
Seriously, it seems to me that reps and dems, in equal proportion accuse the nedia of bias in favor of "the other side" - so I think it is relative to our own perspective.
I would also like to know what statistics you used to determine that reps are more religious and more moral than dems - again, there is plenty of immorality and religious hippocracy to go around. You just tend to see things from a certain slant because of your personal feelings. I suspect that if you did any REAL, unbiased, research on the subjects you brought up you would find things pretty equal.