In addition, the pending sale of OTB the formerly decrepit city agency restored to solvency under Mr. Cornstein s watch may raise questions about his involvement with two of the bidders, potentially marring what he bills as his greatest accomplishment. Now, before his campaign has even begun, state Republicans are wondering whether Mr. Cornstein is their version of Eliot Spitzer the Democratic Attorney General who leveraged his family wealth into electoral victory in 1998 or something else entirely. He can throw all the money in the world at these consultants, but it s not going to get him anywhere. Spitzer had money, but he worked hard and learned the issues. Cornstein reminds me more of Pierre Rinfret.
Nobody wants that again.
Mr. Cornstein, who declined to be interviewed for this story, is an affable racehorse owner, a longtime officer of the Friars Club and a major Republican donor. Though he has long aspired to run for office he wanted to run for Mayor in 1993 and Governor in 1994, but the Republicans looked elsewhere his list of supporters is a reflection of his colorful past rather than the result of grass-roots organizing. N.Y. The Mayor reportedly was less than pleased. As Mr. Cornstein began to lobby for support among G.O.P. county chairmen around the state, he seemed to imply that he had Mr. Pataki s support. A number of local Republican leaders were offended because they d understood that the Governor was not backing anybody in the race.