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Another thing for New Yorkers to forgive: Spitzer didn't vote for Obama

Records reveal that former New York Governor--and now New York City Comptroller candidate--Eliot Spitzer did not vote in the 2012 election, just days after wri
Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is surrounded by media as he tries to collect signatures for his run for New York City Comptroller in New York, Monday, July 8, 2013. (Photo by Seth Wenig/AP)
Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is surrounded by media as he tries to collect signatures for his run for New York City Comptroller in New York, Monday,...

Records reveal that former New York Governor--and now New York City Comptroller candidate--Eliot Spitzer did not vote in the 2012 election, just days after writing a Slate column entitled “Why I Am Voting for Barack Obama.”

Instead of taking a trip to the polls, Spitzer flew to San Francisco to film election panel coverage on Current TV with former Vice President Al Gore. The candidate failed to send out an absentee ballot before the post-marked deadline (one week before Election Day), even though a press release about the panel was published October 31, suggesting that Spitzer may have known about the taping beforehand and could have arranged to vote in time.

“We've heard all the promises, excuses, smart lines, and grotesque misrepresentations. Now it’s time to choose. And the choice is easy,” Spitzer wrote in the Slate column. “…I think President Obama could have handled politics and policies differently. But he has been decisive, strong, and consistent—important qualities in a president.”

Spitzer was ousted as New York governor after having an affair with a prostitute, and is trying to re-enter politics by running for New York City Comptroller. His campaign team has been canvassing the city since he announced his candidacy earlier this week, attempting to collect the needed 3,750 signatures from registered Democrats by midnight on Thursday in order to be included in the September primary ballot.

Spitzer told reporters that the signature canvassing was "going well" as of Thursday afternoon, but would not reveal how many signatures had been collected. Thursday night, he tweeted:

Against the odds and all predictions--and in light of some who tried to thwart the effort--I am pleased to announce that...— Eliot Spitzer (@SpitzerForNYC) July 12, 2013

...we have collected more than 27,000 signatures in four days. I want to thank those who assisted with this effort...— Eliot Spitzer (@SpitzerForNYC) July 12, 2013

Just four days after his announcement to run for Comptroller, a Marist poll shows that he is in the lead over Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Among the other four candidates running for the position is Kristin Davis, the former madam who allegedly supplied Spitzer with hookers.