In his campaigns against conflicts of interest on Wall Street or in the mutual fund industry, Eliot Spitzer has often launched attacks with an element of surprise. Many of his targets grouse that they never knew they were in the New York attorney-general's sights until they heard it on the news.

But there is one future course of action that Mr Spitzer has made very plain: his ambition to run for New York governor. Although Mr Spitzer has not officially declared his candidacy, he is already proving a formidable fundraiser.