http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_repo ... ffort.html

Lou Dobbs hails end of license effort

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BY HELEN KENNEDY and ELIZABETH BENJAMIN

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Thursday, November 15th 2007, 4:00 AM


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Lou Dobbs was doing a victory dance last night.

The CNN host, whose relentless nightly hammering of Gov. Spitzer helped turn licenses for illegal immigrants into a national issue, took credit for having "played some part" in killing the proposal.

"I am well satisfied," Dobbs said, calling it a "stunning retreat" by Spitzer.

As the nation's most impassioned opponent of illegal immigrants, Dobbs pummeled Spitzer for more than a month, branding him spineless and a "spoiled, rich-kid brat."

Spitzer seemed flummoxed by someone even more pugnacious than himself. He wouldn't go on Dobbs' show, saying he "spews venom, hate and fundamental misinformation."

Experts said that ultimately it was the strong opposition of New Yorkers, and not Dobbs, that sank the plan.

"Did Lou Dobbs nationalize the issue? Very possibly. But I don't think his talking about it 40 nights in a row had an impact on the voters in New York," said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg, who said 70% of New Yorkers wanted to nix the idea.

Without Dobbs' crusade, it's unlikely Sen. Hillary Clinton would have been asked about the issue, or given answers so slippery that her poll numbers took a dip.