By MICHAEL GORMLEY
ALBANY — A feisty conservative Democrat loved by many Republicans and Conservatives, sometimes more than those in his own party, is giving New York politicians a fit over the governor's race, which was supposed to have been clear months ago.
Steve Levy, the Suffolk County executive, plans to announce Friday that he will run as a Republican, while also seeking Conservative endorsement. Levy's announcement notes he is supported by state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, but the party won't confirm that, underscoring the intraparty tension of Levy's move.
"It think it's great," said John Faso, the 2006 GOP nominee for governor. "His governing style in terms of fiscal responsibility and being hard-nosed with tax dollars is really where the Republicans are, or should be."
Levy's growing number of supporters show a candidate who has proven to attract a lot of Democratic voters is critical. Democrats have a nearly 2-to-1 enrollment advantage over Republicans, who two years ago lost their last power base in state government.
Levy calls his effort "post-partisan."
He argues, as polls show many New Yorkers see it, that old politics have failed to combat new problems of a devastating recession, years of overtaxing to support powerful special interests, and a global economy where employers are eager to jump to the best tax break in the South or abroad.
"With the right amount of people behind me, it can happen," Levy told The Associated Press. "I'm honored so many people have embraced my plan to reform this state and are interested in my running."
The announcement has long been dreaded by some Republican and Conservative leaders, many of whom have already endorsed Rick Lazio, the former congressman and first foe of Hillary Rodham Clinton successful run for the U.S. Senate.
"By and large, party switching doesn't work," said Maurice "Mickey" Carroll of the Quinnipiac University poll. "But this guy is conservative. Certainly his philosophy is in tune with the majority of Republicans ... and Lazio hasn't caught fire."
Others see that Levy could appeal to a grumpy electorate.
"Clearly what Levy will try to do is position himself as the consummate outsider looking to fix a broken system," said Lee Miringoff of the Marist College poll. "Lazio cannot close the sale with the Republicans. But there's got to be some Republicans who are not going to look kindly at the switch."
Lazio called Levy a lifelong Democrat who has supported liberal Democrats, including former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in disgrace in 2008, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and President Barack Obama.
"I think that many people are calling it rank opportunism, and that probably is a fair assessment," Lazio said Thursday at a Manhattan press conference. "I have zero concern about whether we are going to have the support we need."
"He had his time in Albany," Lazio said, referring to Levy's year in the Assembly which Lazio blames for tax increases and overspending. "He's one of the reasons we are where we are. He is a go-along, get-along kind of guy."
Republican politicians who Levy would need to rely upon aren't all pleased.
"Besides his $4.5 million (in campaign cash), what makes Steve Levy worthy of our nomination?" said Brian Kolb, the Assembly's Republican leader. "I will listen to anyone, but we already have people who are great candidates."
Baruch College politics Professor Doug Muzzio said Levy could be a formidable Republican primary opponent against Lazio, but Levy would be a stronger general election candidate because of his potential broad appeal across party lines.
Levy's move is also a concern for Democrats. They have long been comforted by Andrew Cuomo's record high poll numbers and fat campaign bank account.
But now even the state attorney general is faltering, seeing a major drop in his polls in two weeks that he took on an investigation of Gov. David Paterson and a couple of scandals that eventually forced Paterson to end his Democratic campaign. Cuomo has since recused himself from the investigation.
Now with polls in the mid-50s, if it holds, even Cuomo could be vulnerable.
Levy has a record of cutting spending, lowering taxes while fostering social programs that fits the sentiments of angry voters.
"Maybe he's figuring, 'I could be the right guy at the right time if lightning strikes, but I won't know if I'm not in the game,'" said Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll.
