New York, NY —

His latest nickname is the Steamroller and as attorney general he was known as the Sheriff of Wall Street. Governor Eliot Spitzer is not known for backing down. In his first month in office he laid out an ambitious array of reform proposals but, as the past week shows, now is the hard part.

WNYC’s Elaine Rivera has more.

REPORTER: In just the past week, Spitzer has outlined his state budget, angering the powerful health care workers' union in the process. He offended Republicans by inserting himself into a local state senate election that ended up giving Democrats another seat. Then he invited a fight with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver over the selection of a new state comptroller.

But even after losing that last battle he didn't sound the least bit cowed:

SPITZER: There was a lesson taught yesterday. The lesson taught was the depth of the failure of integrity in our legislature is very deep. The willingness to put public interest aside and act in personal self interest virtually knows no bounds at the leadership level of the state senate and state assembly.

REPORTER: The honeymoon – if there was one – is over. Over the past 12 years, Governor George Pataki and his two counterparts in the Assembly and Senate perfected a dance of backroom deals and stalling techniques. The new governor is like an aggressive dancer forcing his partners into a new choreography…But Silver pushed back on Wednesday and his members voted for one of their own – Thomas DiNapoli -- to be the next comptroller, ignoring a list of candidates the governor backed.

The resulting power struggle could have long term consequences. So says Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

HORNER: Albany's politicians have long memories and they will remember this particular fight and it will have an impact on their relationship over time.

REPORTER: But political consultant George Arzt says he thinks Spitzer comes out ahead either way.

ARZT: He couldn't win it but he came out a winner anyway - because he's the one who’s trying for reform so he had all the newspapers and editorial pages in his favor.

REPORTER: And that's what the reform-minded governor is banking on. He is airing Albany’s way of doing business in the media. Since taking office, his stances have appeared on editorial pages frequently. And at every opportunity, the governor hammers away on the theme that Albany needs to change. Here he is just after DiNapoli was selected:

SPITTZER: This process has been revealing for the public. It has made it clear to the public how people are acting and why - and that is part of the process of reform. We will not get reform if people do not understand how people are acting and what is motivating them and what they are likely to do in the future.

REPORTER: But observers say the governor's landslide victory, enormous popularity, and appeals to the public may not be enough to win reform. He's going to have to learn to negotiate with Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno to accomplish his agenda. Bruno made just that point last week :

BRUNO: …the legislature is an equal branch of government. The governor proposes a budget and the legislature disposes of the budget.

HORNER: Everyone recognizes that the governor and the legislative leaders have to work together to get anything done.

REPORTER: NYPIRG's Blair Horner

HORNER: what will be interesting is to see if this fight fundamentally poisons the relationship.

REPORTER: No matter what, George Arzt says New Yorkers should be prepared for more combat.

ARZT: He loves to fight. He just loves a fight. It's not more than he can't take on...this is a guy who just loves to be in battle.

REPORTER: But the pugnacious governor is not the only one who will come back for more after bruising fights. This is Shelly Silver after the governor laid out his budget:

SILVER: Obviously, the economic and geographic distribution of it will be important to the actual adoption, but I think it's a great beginning.

REPORTER: His baritone voice may spell out his stance in a slow monotone but those are fighting words. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera