City Councilman Joseph Addabbo is kicking off what is expected to be a seven-figure challenge to state Sen. Serphin Maltese with a fund-raiser at a midtown Manhattan lounge this week.
Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith will host Addabbo's campaign cocktail hour on Thursday, but Maltese charged that Smith may not have been Addabbo's first choice for a headliner.
"I understand Gov. Spitzer had promised him a fund-raiser," Maltese (R-Glendale) said. "This may very well be the same fund-raiser that was changed to different hosts."
"No. Definitely not," Addabbo said when questioned on the matter. "Never Spitzer. Never!"
Before the "Client 9" sex scandal toppled Spitzer, Addabbo, who is expected to formally announce his candidacy next month, told the Daily News that his close relationship with Spitzer would make him a more effective legislator than his veteran opponent.
Maltese, who is gunning for his 11th consecutive term in a race in which control of the state Senate could be at stake, said Addabbo would be "damaged" by the loss of Spitzer's backing.
But in denying Maltese's accusation last week, Addabbo said Spitzer had not become directly involved in his campaign before his stunning fall from grace.
"We were trying to work out something with Spitzer but it just never materialized," he said.
The term-limited councilman said the fund-raiser was to be headlined by Smith, Congressman and Queens Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens) and Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Addabbo said congressional ethics guidelines barred Crowley from appearing at the fund-raiser. He said Quinn - recently in the headlines for her link to hiding budget funds behind phony nonprofit groups - could not attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Ozone Park attorney Albert Baldeo, who narrowly lost to Maltese two years ago, is eying a second run for the seat.
But Addabbo is the favored Democratic nominee. "Since Addabbo has the support of every single district leader that I am aware of, he will be the organization's candidate," said Michael Reich, executive secretary of the Queens Democratic Party.
Backed by thousands of dollars of his own money, Baldeo stands by his pledge to run - and says the party has unfairly dismissed him.
"Many people would be very crestfallen and very angry if I am pushed aside," Baldeo said.
Maltese said he is more than content to sit back and watch Addabbo and Baldeo duke it out in a Democratic primary. "That, to be honest, gladdens my heart," he said.
