NY GOP to Spitzer: Resign or We'll Impeach

It's on now. The state Republican leadership is throwing down the gauntlet:

NEW YORK (CBS) ― If Gov. Eliot Spitzer opts to roll the dice and not resign, state Republican leadership will force him to go all-in and call for his impeachment from office, according to a state Assemblyman, who admitted he asked the governor to step down.

Sources told CBS 2 HD shortly after it was reported that the governor was linked to a prostitution ring that he would likely hand in his resignation, which could happen within the next 36 hours. One way or another, the clock is ticking on Spitzer's next move.

A throng of media members camped outside Spitzer's Upper East Side apartment on 5th Avenue between 79th and 80th streets Tuesday morning should any new developments break. It's believed Spitzer was holed up inside receiving counsel from advisors and weighing the possibility of resigning.

Many seem to agree that will happen sooner than later.

Endgame! Spitzer can't possibly sit through impeachment hearings where explicit details of his sexual exploits are aired. As the transcript makes clear, the guy was into something kinky according to a conversation taped by the feds of two hookers discussing the Gov: "ask you to do things that, like, you might not think were safe -- you know -- I mean that ... very basic things. ... ". What the hell was the guy doing that was unsafe? Not wearing a condom, perhaps? Does he really want to answer that?

Spitzer has made abundantly clear that he only cares about himself and not his family--first he wouldn't have cheated on his wife and second he wouldn't have drug her up to the podium with him yesterday. So he may try to fight this but it would be tabloid fodder on a daily basis and in the end he would be ousted anyway.

Stay tuned.

Update: Karol has thoughts on the dedicated wife thing so prevalent at all these contrition speeches..