A Spitzer Target Gets Even by Supporting an Opponent (NY Governor's Race) [View All]

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is famous for conducting high-profile investigations of big business that are settled before trial. One target of his investigations, Kenneth G. Langone, a former director of the New York Stock Exchange, is not only fighting back in court, but fighting Mr. Spitzer in another arena: electoral politics.

Mr. Langone, a billionaire co-founder of the Home Depot, is now trying to thwart Mr. Spitzer's campaign for governor. In a speech at the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday, he accused Mr. Spitzer of being motivated by "raw ambition for pure political gain." And he lavished praise on the man who is widely expected to challenge Mr. Spitzer in the primary election: Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County executive.>>

<<And he said that Mr. Spitzer lacked management experience. "Nine-eleven and Katrina ought to teach us one thing," he said. "We'd better make sure the people we elect are also good managers."

Mr. Suozzi has recently said publicly that he believes Mr. Spitzer was "overreaching" in the Grasso-Langone case. An aide to Mr. Suozzi declined to comment on Mr. Langone's speech.>>


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/10/nyregion/10spitzer.html