Politics on the Hudson

Has Governor Pataki forgotten what state he calls home? Consider the top of this report, from the AP, that also earned the notice of the Times Union blog:

URBANDALE, Iowa—New York Gov. George Pataki rallied campaign volunteers at telephone banks around the state Wednesday, saying he senses new optimism among Republicans in what some thought would be a sour mid-term election.

“There’s more enthusiasm beginning to generate on the Republican side, and I wouldn’t have said that three months ago,” Pataki said.

Pataki spoke with reporters outside his political action committee offices, where he said volunteers have already made 7,500 phone calls and plan thousands more before Tuesday’s election.