GOP GRATITUDE

ALBANY — [Republican] Gov. Pataki [of New York] has set up a $1,000-a-member “Governor’s Trust” to help deliver his message of fiscal austerity “without distortion from the liberal media.”

Announcement of the new organization was contained in a fund-raising letter sent earlier this month to former Pataki donors. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press....

“With your financial support, I will be able to get my message out to New Yorkers directly — without distortion from the elite liberal media — and to fight on a level playing field with our opponents,” Pataki wrote....

--New York Daily News, 3/10/03

NEW YORK (AP) — The editorial board of the New York Times has endorsed Gov. George Pataki for a third term, calling him the most qualified candidate to lead the state during its ongoing financial troubles....

--USA Today, 10/27/02