Eliot Spitzer wants to make it clear: He’s no Weiner.
On the campaign trail yesterday on Staten Island, the former Love Gov took pains to distance himself from the serial sexting mayor wannabe, saying that unlike Weiner, he has learned his lesson.
Asked if he’s been with prostitutes since his resignation in 2008, Spitzer responded unequivocally: “Absolutely not.”
He brushed off the idea that new revelations about Anthony Weiner’s pervy predilection might end up hurting him as well.
“I’m running my own campaign and I have been since the day I got into this,” Spitzer said. “I have no comment on that other than I’m going to be talking to voters about what I’ve done, what my plans are going forward.”
Spitzer’s camp insists voters can tell the difference between the two tainted candidates.
“People understand that Eliot has a record of accomplishments and is a fighter on their side,” claimed Spitzer campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
Campaign insiders also sought to differentiate Spitzer’s comeback with Weiner’s. Spitzer is running for city comptroller, which is a lesser office than the one he resigned five years ago amid a hooker scandal.
Weiner is running for a more powerful office than the congressional post he quit two years ago.
“The voters have separated the two candidates,” the Spitzer source insisted.
The source conceded, however, that Spitzer still must “ask voters for a second chance.”
Many commuters on the St. George side of the Staten Island Ferry seemed ready to give him that chance.
“You’ve got chutzpah! I love it!” said one enthusiastic supporter.