By Stephanie Woodrow

By Stephanie WoodrowSpecial to The Chronicle

There was no reason to stay up as the results of the New York primary races came in late Tuesday night. Other than the Attorney General race and two congressional races in Brooklyn, the outcome of the Democratic primaries in the governor and senator races were as expected and many congressional races did not offer challengers, as the state parties seemed more interested in saving money rather than helping out long-shot candidates.Going into the primary, the most reliable of the unreliable polling numbers told the story of how predictable the statewide races were. Quinnipiac University’s Monday polling had gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer (D) leading by a 6-to-1 margin and Sen. Hilary Clinton (D) winning her race 85-9. Even the polling director was bored on Monday, saying, “The contest between Andrew Cuomo and Mark Green for Attorney General is the only race even close to close in tomorrow’s Democratic primary. As always, it will come down to turnout.”At least Quinnipiac was right about something – midterms always come down to turnout, which the Democrats didn’t bother to do since it seems most of the winners were picked months ago.GovernorThere were no surprises in the governor’s race to determine who will succeed retiring Gov. George Pataki (R). Spitzer, the New York State Attorney General, won his party’s nomination in a landside victory with 80 percent of the votes on Tuesday.Spitzer, who some political analysts say will be president one day, has become a rising star. But before heading to the White House, the 47-year-old Bronx native is likely to head to Albany. Although he still faces a general election against former State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso (R), nobody expects Spitzer to lose, including the state Republican Party, who have all but ignored this race.Spitzer’s only primary competition could barley be called competition, as Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi only received 19 percent of the votes.Suozzi had never been considered a contender in this race, usually trailing Spitzer by more than 50 percent. Quinnipiac’s polling numbers often had Spitzer polling in the mid-70 percent range, while Suozzi rarely received above 20 percent of the votes. In early August, Suozzi announced that he wouldn’t run as an independent if he lost to Spitzer in the primary, basically offering a pre-concession concession speech. After losing Tuesday night, Suozzi announced his endorsement of Spitzer.Even though Spitzer has big plans for government reform, education, property taxes, jobs, public safety, transportation and health care, it may be hard for him to make long-term plans in New York, as many expect him to head to Washington D.C. This may prove to be a problem for him once he is elected governor, although it is unlikely.The “corporate crusader’s” plans will likely include continuing to battle crime, as he is the attorney who took down organized crime by ending the Gambino family’s control of Manhattan’s trucking and garment industries.He hasn’t said too much about education, only declaring the public school system below par, and expressing the need to improve education. His largest campaign promise came in the form of property tax cuts for the middle class, which will include cutting $11 billion from the state budget over the next three years and giving relief in the form of $1.5 billion next year, $2 billion in 2008 and $2.5 billion in 2009.As one of the only state-level politicians in the country to receive national attention, Spitzer will be under the microscope from the time he enters office, until he begins his presidential campaign. As the public prefers a decision-maker as president as opposed to a legislator, Spitzer is setting himself up well for his presidential run, which will likely be in 2012 if the Republicans keep the White House, or 2016 if a Democrat becomes the next president in 2008.Spitzer’s running mate this November is State Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, while Faso will be running with Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef.Attorney GeneralThe best primaries are when two qualified candidates force the issues, get people talking about politics and don’t mind discussing their somewhat sorted pasts. Well, this year’s AG race didn’t offer that, but it did offer scandal, corruption and best of all, a huge curveball aimed at the frontrunner a week before the primary.Former U.S. Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo (D) has been the anticipated winner from the beginning. With a more recognizable name, even if it was due to housing scandals, Cuomo didn’t expect a challenge, even when former New York City public advocate Mark Green (D) entered the picture. Green, a habitual candidate, didn’t draw much attention at first, mostly attempting to take some of the spotlight off Cuomo. But as some of Cuomo’s business dealings surfaced as the summer went on, Green realized he might actually have a chance.Green started raising serious money and receiving important endorsements, including The New York Times and New York Daily News, in addition to less important endorsements from numerous unknown politicians and local unions. The kicker came last week when The Village Voice published a story reveling Cuomo’s “issues” with money including a disappearing $59 million when he was secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and receiving $1.2 million in fees from a slumlord who Cuomo coincidentally chose not to charge or prosecute on housing violations. Cuomo also received $800,000 in campaign contributions from the same slumlord. Oddly enough, one story no one, including The Village Voice, seemed to find interesting is no one from Cuomo’s administration endorsed him. Typically a stand-by-your-man game, it tells a tale when nobody a candidate has worked endorses the candidate. The day before the primary, Quinnipiac University still had Cuomo leading 50-31, but again, it all comes down to turnout.Cuomo did prevail, beating Green 52-32. The two other candidates in the primary, Sean Patrick Maloney and Charles G. King, finished with 9 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Senate The average Senator has spent $3,340,709 on their re-election campaign so far this cycle and is holding onto $5,164,775 cash on hand. As of June 30, Clinton has spent $16,725,827 on her re-election campaign and has $22,000,937 cash on hand.The former first lady is one-half of arguably the most politically powerful couple in history. With her former White House status, and a county still in love with her husband and yearning for “the good ol’ days” when Bill was in charge, nothing can stop Clinton from retaining her Senate seat.Clinton’s sole challenger was anti-war activist Jonathan Tasini, who lost to the freshman Senator 83-16.D.C. insiders and those close to the Senator have repeatedly said Clinton hasn’t decided whether or not she will run for president in 2008, but she’s preparing herself and her campaign in case she decides to go for it.After she wins re-election against former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer (R), her agenda will include determining whether or not she wants to spend another eight years in the White House, and working for New York probably won’t be high on her list of priorities, unless she decides not to run. However, Clinton does claim to have her priorities straight when it comes to New Yorkers. Sixteen of them to be exact, ranging from Strengthening Homeland Security to Working for America’s Farmers. Spencer won the Republican primary against K.T. McFarland, a former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary and former congressional aide, with Spencer receiving 60 percent and McFarland earning 39 percent. Although it doesn’t look like Clinton will crush Spencer as badly as she did Tasini, she still has little cause for concern on Nov. 7.CongressOf the 29 congressional districts in New York, only four districts required Democratic primaries on Tuesday, while two Republican primaries were necessary. Brooklyn, which makes up the eighth to 13th congressional districts, was the only area that sawheated primaries in New York on Tuesday.Rep. Edolphus Towns (D), the 10th District’s representative, was challenged by fello
w Democrats Charles Barron, a New York City councilman and former Black Panther Party activist, and State Assemblyman Roger Green. Towns, who is currently serving his 12th term, won re-election by 3,469 votes and 46 percent, against Barron’s 37 percent, and Green’s 15 percent. Brooklyn’s 11th District is represented by Rep. Major Owens (D), also in his 12th term. Owens, who is retiring this year, will likely be replaced by Yvette D. Clarke, who barely beat out David S. Yassky in the primary, winning 31 percent of the votes to Yassky’s 26 percent, which in this race was 2,376 votes. In the general, Clarke should have no trouble against physician Steve Finger (R) in this overwhelmingly Democratic district. Disclosure – This reporter is currently interning at The Village Voice but was not working there when the story on Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo was researched or written.

New York’s new attorney general.