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Spitzer Executes a Textbook Comeback

He's made all the right moves—with an assist from the financial crisis

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Apr 17, 2009 11:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Six months ago—to say nothing of a year—predicting an Eliot Spitzer comeback would’ve been laughable. But the financial crisis has speeded up rehab for the disgraced former governor, giving him a chance to use his expertise as “the Sheriff of Wall Street,” writes Politico. Apologizing and disappearing for a decent interval were executed perfectly, too. "The truth is, voters are actually pretty forgiving,” says a GOP strategist. "As long as you fall on your sword, crawl over broken glass and wear black for a year.”

After apologizing and resigning, Spitzer spent almost a year under the radar. He worked in his family’s real estate business and went to couples therapy with his wife. The financial crisis gave him his chance; he’s become a regular in print and on television—without hiring an image expert. It helps that his scandal did not go to the heart of his expertise. Says a pollster, “If he were talking about family medical leave, I think he’d have a harder time.”

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In this March 10, 2008 file photo, New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer is joined by his wife Silda as he makes a statement to reporters during a news conference in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)

In this March 31, 2007 file photo, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is shown at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Spitzer, who battered AIG with charges of mismanagement, has been using the AIG affair to... (AP Photo/Tim Roske, file)

In this March 10, 2008 file photo, New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer makes a statement to reporters during a news conference in New York where he apologized to his family and the public after a report... (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer/FILE)

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Spitzer Executes a Textbook Comeback