Ex-governor
Azi Paybrah of Capital New York thinks the endorsement is about a double layer of spite: the Civil Service Employees Association hates Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), and Cuomo and Spitzer hate each other.
This is the dominant theme in the 2013 races for both Mayor and Comptroller of New York City. People aren't backing the candidates they like. They're backing the opponents of the candidates they hate.
A few weeks back, I wrote about the forces mobilizing behind Spitzer's opponent in the Comptroller race, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer (D). They're driven not by Stringer's awesomeness but by the various reasons they hate Spitzer: bankers are mad about his Wall Street investigations, health care workers are mad about his Medicaid reform initiative as governor, the teachers' union is mad about his efforts to expand charter schools, etc.
In the mayoral race, the business and real estate interests that love Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I) have lined up with Council Speaker
Meanwhile De Blasio has accused his primary opponents, especially Quinn, of "aiding and abetting" the mayor, as though they were engaged in some criminal enterprise. That line works because his supporters are animated by their dislike of Bloomberg, and they resent Quinn for working so closely with him.
Ex-Comptroller
If all that depresses you (and it should) you can at least look to one bright spot of agreement: Everybody hates