Just as his wife and daughters were enjoying their lives out of the public eye, disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer selfishly forced them back in by running for comptroller, sources close to the family said yesterday.
“It’s a shame. She [Silda] was really enjoying her life out of the spotlight,” a pal of Silda Spitzer, the Love Gov’s wife, told The Post. “What he does to the family is really incredible.”
On NY1 last night, Eliot Spitzer conceded his family was put through the wringer when his hooker-happy days were exposed five years ago.
“I hold myself accountable, and it was a very difficult period for me, for my family,” he said.
Silda was a no-show during Spitzer’s first day on the campaign trail in Union Square around noon.
A few hours later, the wife of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, his Democratic opponent, was seen at her husband’s side at a stop at the Fairway Market on the Upper West Side.
Asked what contribution she would make to her hubby’s campaign, Elise Stringer said, “Whatever you need.”
Spitzer’s candidacy is already getting blowback.
Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Upper West Side) yesterday recalled Spitzer’s tenure as governor with disgust.
“Eliot Spitzer doesn’t respect women. What he did disrespected women, disrespected the law and disrespected his responsibility as governor during a pivotal time in New York state history. We don’t need someone like that as the New York City comptroller,” said Rosenthal, a Stringer booster.
For his part, Spitzer insisted his family was on board with his decision to run. He said Silda will be campaigning with him and denied that they have separated.
“She’s at the office,” he said while greeting voters in Union Square Park.
Earlier, on “CBS This Morning,” Spitzer said, “We have discussed this. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think my family would be supportive and was with it.”
He said his daughters — Elyssa, 23, Sarabeth, 20, and Jenna, 19 — are “mature” enough to handle the public onslaught.
“Politics is a contact sport . . . This one takes a a unique toll on the family. I have imposed that toll. And so I’m very conscious of that, and it’s not easy.”
Sounding much like Anthony Weiner, Spitzer said he’s asking voters to give him a second chance after five years in purgatory and consider his service as attorney general and governor.
But yesterday proved a rocky start. He was greeted by a heckler in Union Square Park.
“Did you leave your black socks on?” the man shouted, referring to Spitzer’s habit of wearing them during his trysts with hookers.
“This is about public service,” Spitzer shot back.
“No, this is about power. You just want power, man. If you want public service, go volunteer somewhere,” the heckler said.
“You betrayed your constituents, your family and your wife. You betrayed everybody.”
Spitzer moved on: “This is what I look forward to — dealing with the public,” he said.
“This is New York. You don’t get into this fray if you don’t know this is going to happen.”
Earlier, Spitzer struggled with a question about being viewed as a hypocrite for cracking down on prostitution while in office.
“It’s a fair argument . . . We enforced the law when I was attorney general. We enforced it when I was governor,” he said on WNYC radio.
In related developments:
* Spitzer is unveiling a book, “Protecting Capitalism: Case by Case,” to coincide with his run.
* Democratic Party insiders say Stringer is a “close friend” of Gov. Cuomo, raising the possibility that the governor could undermine Spitzer’s comeback.
* While he has proposed limits on campaign contributions, Spitzer will spend millions from his own fortune in his campaign.
Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Laurel Babcock, Jeannie MacIntosh and Beth DeFalco