- Title: USA: Manhattan madame sexes up race for governor
- Date: 17th April 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (APRIL 15, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) KRISTIN DAVIS, GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "I want government out of the bedroom and the boardroom. I want them to stay out them out of individuals lives." DAVIS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED AT A FUNDRAISING LAUNCH AT A NEW YORK NIGHT CLUB
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA92EEZ5IK3OEPZE9AYTYIJ0EK8
- Story Text: The race for governor just got a whole lot sexier -- and controversial.
Kristin Davis, the former madame who claimed to have supplied disgraced former Governor Eliot Spitzer with prostitutes, launched her campaign for public office in New York on Thursday (April 15), complete with scantily clad go-go dancers in body paint and models from the pornographic magazine Penthouse.
Davis -- who is running on a campaign to legalize marijuana, prostitution and gay marriage -- has one of the GOP's most fearsome strategists backing her.
Roger Stone, a GOP operative and veteran of Nixon, Reagan and Bush presidential campaigns, is acting as Davis' top advisor.
Both he and the former escort empress insist the gubernatorial bid is not a hoax or gimmick, despite hoping to win the office she helped bring down.
"I want government out of the bedroom and the boardroom," said Davis, who served nearly four months in jail for her role in the prostitution ring .
The former flesh peddler is running on what she calls a "pro-freedom" platform to bail the state out of its multi-billion dollar debt.
"We're broke," the former hedge fund executive said.
"From a basic economic stand point, New York State is broke. A plus-billion dollar budget deficit. Legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana and prostitution will bring in three billion dollars in revenue.
"No other career politician has put forward any plan to bring in new revenues."
Stone, who boasts of being the sleaziest man in American politics, has claimed he tipped off federal authorities to Spitzer's high-priced hooker habit in a letter to the FBI.
The whistle-blowing letter also reportedly mentioned the governor's fetish for having sex with his socks on.
Spitzer was caught on wiretaps in 2008 arranging to meet prostitute Ashley Alexandra (Kristen) Dupré at a Washington hotel. He resigned in disgrace in March, that year.
Stone insists Davis is qualified for the role of Governor, despite her criminal past.
"This is someone who built a multi-million dollar business from scratch," he said.
"She became enamored about the economics of sex, she wrote a business plan, then she executed it and it made millions of dollars.
"She knows more about creating jobs than those in government today."
At her fundraising launch, Davis auctioned off a dinner with a nude model from Penthouse magazine. She estimates she raised $15 thousand (USD), a pittance compared to the war chest her rivals hold.
"I am what I am," she said.
"I could be demure and put on the Sarah Palin hair and glasses, but I am not trying to what every other politician does. I am what I am. I hope that people listen to me and realize that I am smart and that I am motivated and care about these things. I care about New Yorkers. Vote for me, accordingly."
Davis is also seeking nomination of New York's Libertarian Party. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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