Sen. Charles Schumer repeatedly refused yesterday to rule out a run for governor in 2006 if, as expected, he wins re-election next year.
“Who knows?” Schumer responded when asked about his future political plans.
“I make no predictions. When I got to Congress, I was 29 years old. People said, ‘What next?’ I just did a good job as a congressman, so that’s what I’m doing now.”
Schumer, a popular Democrat who is not expected to have trouble winning a second six-year term next year, commented in response to The Post’s disclosure Monday that prominent African-American Democrats were discussing a plan to give him their support in what could be a tough gubernatorial primary battle against Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
The proposal calls for Schumer to appoint a black politician as his successor in the Senate if he becomes governor.
Republican insiders don’t expect Gov. Pataki to seek a fourth term in 2006 and, if he doesn’t, many expect former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to be their party’s standard-bearer.