Eliot Spitzer Says He Won't Run for Office Again

Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, who stepped down in disgrace two years ago after admitting to an appetite for high-priced prostitutes, says he has no plans to run for elected office again.

"I don't have any thoughts about running for political office right now," Spitzer told New York's WPIX-TV. "It's not what I am doing. People have been encouraging me to run for office. I am flattered, and I'm thankful. It feels nice, but it's not happening."

Spitzer has increased his media presence lately, writing editorials, lending his opinions to cable's talking-heads shows and even cooperating with a documentary about his downfall, according to Gothamist.

When interviewer Marvin Scott pointed out it sure looks like Spitzer might be gearing up for another run, Spitzer replied, "When it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck . . . but every duck doesn't run for office, you know."

Spitzer was unflinching about patronizing the exclusive prostitution ring.

"There is simply no good answer . . . you err, you sin, you fail and have lack of judgment. I had a flaw and failed," he said. There is no way to explain or rationalize or justify." He added that his wife, Silda, is "stupendous" and that their marriage is "strong."

He had less to say about his former lieutenant, current Gov. David Paterson, who has seen his own scandal related to the handling of an aide's domestic violence case. Spitzer denied that Paterson was an ineffectual leader, saying only that "David struggled to do what is right. He has made some missteps."

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Spitzer replied: "I'm not ready to write my obituary. Here's what I hope people will remember: I fought my heart out for them. I fought every battle trying to preserve the public interest. That is what I care about."