Washington -Former New York Gov. George Pataki is the latest Republican to get into the race for president.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In a video posted Thursday morning on YouTube, Pataki says America needs to recapture the spirit of unity that spread through the country in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was in his second of three terms as governor when the attacks struck New York and Washington, and Pataki highlights his role in New York and the country’s recovery in the video.
“If we are to flourish as a people, we have to fall in love with America again,” Pataki says in the video, which includes a logo that reads, “Pataki for President.”
Pataki is expected to formally announce his candidacy later Thursday. He’s scheduled to speak in Exeter, New Hampshire, which served as the state capital during the Revolutionary War and claims to be the birthplace of the Republican Party.
After flirting with the idea of a White House run in both 2008 and 2012, Pataki starts the 2016 campaign as a longshot in a crowded Republican field that includes several current and former governors, sitting senators, business leaders and a renowned neurosurgeon.
Pataki has cited his electoral success in a heavily Democratic state — he knocked off liberal icon Mario Cuomo to become governor in 1994 — and ability to work with Democrats as among his strengths. But he’s spent recent months promoting his conservative credentials, as those running for the Republican nomination invariably do.
In an earlier trip to New Hampshire, he campaigned against President Barack Obama’s health care law, criticized Obama’s executive order to offer protections against deportation to millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, and said the nation can’t afford another Democratic president. He also has called for less government spending and limiting government power.
“We’ve seen an explosion in government power from Washington and the government is far too big, far too powerful, far too expensive and far too intrusive,” Pataki said in New Hampshire earlier this year. “The need to reform Washington dramatically and reduce its power and influence has never been greater.”
Pataki, 69, has worked as a lawyer and opened a consulting firm since leaving office in 2006. He’s been a frequent visitor to the early nominating states of Iowa and New Hampshire over the years, and has made more than half a dozen trips to New Hampshire this year alone as he explored a 2016 campaign. His earlier efforts never resulted in a full-fledged campaign, however.
I always wondered why people who have no chance of winning run, he would have a better chance winning as a democrat then he does as a republican
Why waste the time and peoples money
I don’t know what this man is thinking. He was at best a mediocre governor with no great accomplishments and with no background at all in foreign affairs. I’d say he’s about as qualified as Donald Trump or Donald Duck, but anyone can throw his hat in the ring.
Pataski was a great senator he has brite ideas and I welcome him to the ovil office
I heard Pataki’s announcement on the radio. Okay, fine… I fell asleep after the first 10 seconds.
Whatever his chances, if he wins, jews never had a better friend at the white house, if there is such a difinition as chasidie umas huolam, its pataki, he genuinely loves the jewish Nation! (No, he doesn’t love israel because of its importance in the christian religion)
there is several reasons why they run for office. 1 they might have the chance to become vice president. 2 they want to show their faces back in public. they have a chance to make more money speechers and so on.
If he says he wants to run let him run and he will win.
It’s too late for Purim and April fools. Mamish a joke, a catskill burlesque routine, a waste of everyones time. Him and the other clown Christie. We want strong viable candidates not narcistic characters who like to see their faces on the news.
Unfortunately he has no charisma, is very dull and doesn’t seem presidential. That’s enough to turn people off.