By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Bad blood between ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo seemed to surface again Thursday, though Spitzer said earlier this month that he plans to vote for the Democratic nominee.
"...the problem that Andrew has is that everybody knows that behind the scenes, he is the dirtiest, nastiest political player out there and that is his reputation from years in Washington," Spitzer said on CNN's "American Morning," where he discussed the race for governor between Cuomo and Republican nominee Carl Paladino.
Just weeks ago, when asked on NY1 if he had reconsidered voting for Cuomo, Spitzer responded by saying, "Sure I am. I think it's quite clear he will win."
Nevertheless, Spitzer said on Thursday that Paladino may pose more of a threat to Cuomo than was initially thought. While Cuomo is likely to carry the vote in New York City, Spitzer said that Paladino may have an edge over Cuomo upstate and in the suburban areas of the state.
"If a fellow like Carl Paladino who has the Tea party anger behind him is carrying with him a significant margin of victory upstate, that can overcome a deficit New York City," Spitzer said.
Spitzer said that Cuomo needs to get out and talk with voters — something he has not done a lot of.
"[Cuomo] may have lost the critical moment to do that because Carl Paladino, crazy as he may appear to be, portrayed by the media as being a little rough around the edges, that's what the public may want right now," Spitzer said.
The two men have clashed several times in the past, including during the Troopergate scandal, when the AG had reprimanded then-Gov. Spitzer for allegedly monitoring then-State Senate majority leader Joe Bruno's movements for political purposes.
