George Pataki joins crowded GOP field

Former New York Gov. George Pataki early Thursday released a video announcing his 2016 White House bid, joining a crowded field of Republican candidates.

{mosads}”Washington has grown too big, too powerful, too expensive and too intrusive,” Pataki said in the video, which includes images of the New York skyline and close-ups of the Republican.

“It is time to stand up, protect our freedom and take back this government,” a soft-spoken Pataki added in the video, which flashes his “Pataki For President” logo. It was posted to his campaign website.

Pataki noted being elected three consecutive times as governor in deep-blue New York.

His position as governor during 9/11 is highlighted heavily in the video, which ends with him seeming to look to the future while overlooking the World Freedom Tower.

“That’s exactly what we hoped, that we would not just rebuild what was here but build higher and taller and soar to new heights, and show people we weren’t going to think small or live afraid,” he said.

Pataki is considered a long shot for the Republican nomination, but can point to his ability to knock off incumbent Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994.

He is slated to speak later Thursday in New Hampshire, where he is expected to publicly declare his bid.

“I know I can win this election, and that’s one of the reasons I’m running,” Pataki said during an appearance on Fox’s “America’s Newsroom.”

Pataki brushed off the findings of a Quinnipiac University poll released earlier Thursday showing five Republican hopefuls locked atop a crowded 2016 GOP field. Pataki did not register support in that poll. 

“The polls have never bothered me,” he said, pointing to his time running for governor of New York in which he mounted a come-from-behind win against Cuomo heading into his first election.

“I’m optimistic we can overcome the odds as we have in the past,” he said.

During the interview that focused on foreign policy, Pataki staked out his position on issues such as nuclear negotiations with Iran and the rise of Islamic militants in the Middle East.

“Iran is the No. 1 sponsor in the world of state terror,” he said, referring to the country’s support of forces in Libya and Yemen and its belligerence toward Israel. He also voiced general opposition to the Obama administration’s push for a nuclear deal with Iran.

“I think it should be rejected, unless we can be absolutely certain it won’t put it on the path toward nuclear weapons,” Pataki said of the deal. 

He said it is necessary to prevent groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from establishing recruiting and training centers to plan 9/11-style attacks on the U.S. 

“If necessary, we will send in American boots on the ground,” Pataki said of defeating ISIS in Iraq, emphasizing it would not be a “a trillion-dollar war or nation-building” but instead quicker U.S. operations like a recent one taking out an ISIS leader in Syria. 

On domestic policy, Pataki said he would advocate a “reform agenda” targeting political figures in Washington.

“We’re going to get rid of corrupt agents in the IRS,” he said.

He also weighed in on Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s use of private email as secretary of State and allegations of impropriety at the Clinton Foundation.

“I would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate exactly what she did,” he said.

Democrats issued a statement brushing off Pataki’s entrance into the 2016 race.

“Another day, another Republican running for President who opposes raising the minimum wage and whose agenda is wrong for the middle class,” said Holly Shulman, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee.

This story was updated at 11:09 a.m.