Former sex worker enters N.Y. gov. race

NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Former sex worker Kristin Davis, dubbed the "Manhattan Madam," said she intends to run as a Libertarian in the race for governor of New York.

Davis has help from a well known Republican operative, Roger Stone, who worked with former presidents including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and both Bushes.

"This is not a hoax, a prank or a publicity stunt. I want to get her a half-million votes," Stone said.

Davis has talked about running against former Gov. (and alleged former client) Eliot Spitzer.

In 2007, Stone tipped off the FBI to Spitzer's predilection for prostitutes, landing Davis nearly four months on Rikers Island while Spitzer resigned in disgrace but escaped indictment, the Daily News said.

"But now that it looks like he won't run, Kristin still wants to use her celebrity to highlight a reform agenda," Stone said.

Davis' image belies her credentials, which include 10 years in finance, the report said. She says she is a natural Libertarian, defining "taxation as confiscation," and says legalizing prostitution and marijuana could provide $2.5 billion in revenue.

Stone denies he is using Davis to lure votes away from Democrats.

"The (presumptive) Republican candidate, Rick Lazio, is a turkey," Stone said. "Kristin will get as many gun votes from the Republicans as pot votes from the Democrats."