The NYT says Shumer will stay in D.C.
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: November 16, 2004
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 - Senator Charles E. Schumer on Monday ruled out running for governor of New York in 2006, saying that he would instead help lead the Democratic Party's efforts to retake the Senate.
Mr. Schumer's decision reshapes the political landscape in New York State and leaves the field open to Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic state attorney general, who has been gearing up for the campaign. Gov. George E. Pataki, a Republican in his third term, has not said whether he will seek re-election.
Mr. Schumer, 53, who was just re-elected to a second term with a record 71 percent of the vote, made his decision to stay in Washington after seriously considering a jump to Albany, in part because of the diminished role of Democrats in the Senate.
But top Democrats vigorously campaigned to keep him in Washington, promising him a spot on the powerful Finance Committee and persuading him to lead the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee through the midterm elections of 2006.
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This was a good decision, I think. Spitzer would likely make a good governor and stands a good chance to beat Pataki. I haven't followed Schumer too closely, but if he can help turn things around in 2006, I'm going to have nothing but good things to say about him. Let's start sending him our ideas and keep the pressure on him for the next two years. He needs to start, oh, about, yesterday working to win a solid majority in the Senate. Which seats are the Democrats most likely to pick up? I know I'm going to write him a long letter about Senator Allen's seat in Virginia.
