Why has George Pataki failed to deliver his big-bucks backers for would-be successor Bill Weld? Though the governor is officially neutral, his quiet support for Weld led many Republicans to assume that Pataki’s biggest financial supporters would also get behind the former Massachusetts governor. But known Pataki backers, such as his former law partner Bill Plunkett, MTA chief Peter Kalikow, cosmetics mogul Ron Lauder, and conservative billionaire Bruce Kovner, have yet to open their wallets for Weld, according to campaign records. “Pataki’s donor network hasn’t stepped up for Weld,” a top state GOPer notes. Instead, Weld has returned to his former state, where he raised some $400,000. Weld spokesman Dominick Ianno responds that the campaign just hired former Pataki fund-raiser Cathy Blaney, adding, “We’re just starting to hit full stride. But we’re very happy with our fund-raising operation to date. Weld started late, but we’ve already got $2 million.”

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• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Greg Sargent
• Table of Contents: February 6, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!