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Pataki wins third term in New York

Pataki

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ALBANY, New York (CNN) -- Republican George Pataki won a third term as governor of New York Tuesday, CNN projected. Democrat state Comptroller Carl McCall trailed Pataki by double digits in the weeks leading up to the election.

Pataki also faced opposition from Independence Party candidate and billionaire businessman Tom Golisano, who spent at least $54 million on his third campaign for governor.

McCall won the Democratic nomination in September after Andrew Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo and housing secretary under President Clinton, withdrew from the race before the primary.

While the Democrats emptied their war chests fighting each other, Pataki stockpiled funds into a daunting $23 million coffer, nearly five times as much as McCall.

Pataki hewed closely to the middle in his statewide campaign and even ventured to the left on a range of key issues, such as drug reform and immigration.

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