Spitzer Says Elites Lead Fund-Raising Efforts Against Him Sounding at once unimpressed and defiant, Eliot Spitzer on Tuesday pointed to the formation of two "super PACs" that oppose his candidacy as the latest evidence that entrenched interests are afraid of having him in the New York City comptroller's office. The anti-Spitzer groups, backed by business leaders, women's organizations and labor unions, plan to spend at least $1.5 million on their effort, saying Mr. Spitzer's vociferous criticism of Wall Street when he was attorney general and his patronizing of prostitutes when he was governor disqualify him for citywide office. But Mr. Spitzer seemed to revel in being attacked by what he portrayed as special interests representing the political and business elite, saying the independent expenditures would "frame the debate" in his favor. "I was not surprised that the establishment doesn't want me," Mr. Spitzer said after receiving the endorsement of a community group in Chinatown. "They don't want an independent voice," he added. My calling card, since the day I was elected attorney general, was independence. I stood up to people who had not had anybody stand up to them in a long time. At the same time, Mr. Spitzer, who is paying for his campaign using his considerable wealth, said he did not object to the outside spending, saying, "I've always been of the view that more speech is better." His opponent in the Democratic primary, Scott M. Stringer, the Manhattan borough president, distanced himself from the independent expenditures, even though they are intended to benefit his campaign. Mr. Stringer used the opportunity once again to criticize Mr. Spitzer for not voluntarily accepting the spending limits that are part of the city's optional matching funds program. "There is no place in this debate for spending outside the letter and law of the city's campaign finance program, either from Eliot Spitzer spending his millions to buy this office or outside groups spending theirs," Mr. Stringer said. Mr. Stringer on Tuesday accepted the endorsements of three former city comptrollers - Harrison J. Goldin, Elizabeth Holtzman, and William C. Thompson Jr. - and a former state comptroller, H. Carl McCall. Mr. Thompson is a Democratic candidate for mayor this year. Mr. Spitzer spent his morning in Chinatown, addressing a crowd of voters gathered on metal folding chairs in the second-floor hall of the Lin Sing Association on Mott Street, above storefronts selling novelty T-shirts, tote bags and pashmina scarves. He promised to pay attention to immigrant issues - as an example, he suggested using the city's pension funds to provide capital for small businesses started by Chinese immigrants - and vowed to return to the neighborhood often, saying, "I work 24 hours a day." On a street corner outside, a member of the association, George Hu, who worked as an aide to Mr. Spitzer when he was governor, said he did not worry that Mr. Spitzer's past transgressions might affect his ability to be city comptroller. "It's not an election for pope," Mr. Hu said.