News Copy, New York

Paladino "Love Child" Major Setback For Indie Candidate: Something In Common With Albany

Ouch.

Carl Paladino is not having a good day.  The New York Daily News reports that Paladino has an illegitimate child.

Coupled with his active support of liberal Democrats and his already unorthodox style of campaigning, the Independence Party might have some problems if Carl Paladino is their candidate.

Of course, it has been said that no one can win in New York without a scandal.

By that measure, Paladino should have a lot of fun this year.

The Buffalo News asks:Is New York Ready for Carl Paladino?

With enough drugs, domestic violence and double-lives wandering the halls of the State Capitol Building to pen a few screenplays, methinks New York's body politic should get over themselves.

Sixty-nine of New Yorker say that the state will be better off if most legislators are not elected: Rasmussen Reports

As for Paladino's competition, Newsday reported how Steve Levy's competition refers to the Democrat-turned-Republican as a "party of one" on Long Island.

"He may wind up at the top of your ticket, they say, but don't expect him to be the captain of your team."

Elizabeth Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog Daily Politics reported that the regional chairs are jumping off the good ship Cox (or, at least, have been MIA) when it comes to Steve Levy.

"There were key names missing from yesterday's state GOP regional vice chairs letter in support of Suffolk County Steve Levy, and their absence highlights a growing rift within the party over state Chairman Ed Cox's handling of the governor's race and leadership style."

This is treacherous for Cox.

Elizabeth Benjamin noted that only five of the nine regional chairs signed the letter, plus First Vice Chair Vincent Reda.

Two of of the missing four, Westchester County GOP chair Doug Colety and Tioga's Don Leonard are supporting Rick Lazio.

This is treacherous for those chairs looking for cooperation from New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long, who has been loyal to Rick Lazio (while many Conservatives are scratching their heads).

Republican candidates for Congressional, State Senate and Assembly seats that cover multiple counties will rely on Long's endorsement to get on the line.

New York Conservative Party Stands Behind Lazio: State GOP Sharply Rebuffed Over Levy

By a 5-1 margin, the New York State Conservative Party has endorsed Rick Lazio for Governor.

Conservative State Chairman Mike Long has read the riot act to State Republican leaders backing Steve Levy.

"Rick is exactly the person we need in Albany to fight for the people of New York. He's not just calling for change, he's calling for fundamentally changing the very way Albany does business," said Long.

Lazio stated that he is committed " to running on the Conservative line all the way through to election day."

He better.

Wouldn't be the first time a candidate took a party's line and vanished (ie. Andrew Cuomo and the Liberal Party, circa 2002).

Lazio cut deeply into Cuomo.

"Andrew Cuomo is appallingly liberal, a tool of the special interests, and has done nothing to fix Albany in thirty years," said Lazio. "Indeed, he has been a part of the Albany culture his whole life."

The New York Daily News reported that a lengthily and sometimes heated meeting took place in Brooklyn today, some holding out for Steve Levy and others for Carl Palandino.

"When push came to shove, the vote was overwhelmingly for Rick Lazio," said party Chairman Mike Long. "I didn't use the proxies. I didn't have to use them. Those present listened to all the arguments and debate."

"...It took a long time because I gave them all time to speak. Some spoke five or six times. Some of them got a little excited, but I just let it happen."

But the grassroots support for Lazio has not been overwhelming -- and Long's committee has now set a scenario in motion that holds them hostage to Finkelstein, Inc.

Lazio's campaign needs a swift kick in the ass.  Short of shock treatment, Republicans with clout need to shake the cobwebs out of the current Conservative-Republican establishment.

Worse, Conservatives endorsing Lazio so earlier has placed Carl Paladino on the outside looking in.  It potentially alienates a cross-section of voters tired of business as usual by party leaders.

It could actually empower a third party movement behind Carl Paladino, whose ties to Golisano could bring him the Independence Party line.  It also opens the door for George Marlin to run statewide on the Conservative line.

Madness ...

The New York Post reported on Bronx Conservative leader Bill Newmark expressing his own concerns about Lazio's campaign.

"Republcans only win when they polarize...not by race....but by issues," he said.

"There's no enthusiasm (for Lazio) at all," he added. "Nobody wants to get out to work for him. The state senate will remain gone if Lazio's at the top of the ticket."

Bronx County GOP Chairman Jay Savino has been among Republicans leaders supporting Steve Levy.

Former New York Congressman Joe DioGuardi To Declare For U.S. Senate: Another Gillibrand Challenger

Joe DioGuardi's in, not formally declared, but the tea party community has been told that he is running for U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.

The former two-term Congressman revealed his intentions to a crowd of nearly 300 people in Nanuet at the Regency Hotel.

Gillibrand also faces possible challenges from publisher Mort Zuckerman, Republican Bruce Blakeman and Democrat Harold Ford.

DioGuardi spoke at the tea party conference in Rockland County today, where the "first practicing CPA elected to Congress" was welcomed for his expertise on fiscal reform.

Usually, the tea party movement can be a bit reticent to promote a candidate.  But DioGuardi has been "walking the walk" on reforming the budget process longer than most elected officials throughout the nation, particularly through his work with the good government organization Truth In Government.

Daily Kos did a quick overview on the race two weeks ago:

"Undecided is the big winner in a contest with Ford and Blakeman, with Ford leading 35-26. Meanwhile, another Republican might be getting into the game, with the news that former Congressman and perennial candidate Joe DioGuardi is thinking about getting into the race. DioGuardi, 69, served in Congress for two terms way back in the 1980s, and is a favorite of the Conservative and Right To Life Parties."

DioGuardi will be formidable, as a speaker and a fundraiser.  He is reaching out to county leaders, hustling to secure the Conservative line and has been received well by State GOP leaders.

Sources within the Conservative Party are complaining that Blakeman was only brought into the race as a foil for former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato -- whose lobbying hooks into Gillibrand though her father, Doug Rutnik, should only be viewed as a conflict of interest.

Blakeman's prior political incarnation during Long Island's fiscal collapse a decade ago might also be held against him -- but he gave a great speech to Conservatives on Homeland Security. 

DioGuardi's own speech to Conservatives on the national debt was acknowledged as the best speech of the New York State Conservative Party's Political Action Conference.

DioGuardi's own foreign policy experience throughout the Balkans will give the two-term Congressman an edge in this race, though early polls indicate the dominating issues will be fiscal.

The Bronx born Italian-American CPA, who was the youngest partner in history of Arthur Andersen 40 years ago (when it was still considered "the marines of the accounting profession"), excelled as a human rights activist for the Albanians.

A good friend of News Copy over the years, DioGuardi was ahead of his time never cashing in as a lobbyist and was maintaining a modest profile as a citizen activist long before the tea party movement was started.

Of course, DioGuardi is also the proud father of American Idol's Kara DioGuardi -- which means the Internet's search engines are probably going to be busier than usual this election cycle.

Gillibrand's in for a long hot summer.

New York's 19th Congressional Getting More Crowded: Pro-life Movement Flexing Muscles

Since Barack Obama only won New York's 19th Congressional District 52-48%, two-term incumbent 
Democrat John Hall has to be feeling the heat.  News Copy has learned that the names of at least eight Republicans and one Conservative are being floated for this House seat, including four each from Orange and Westchester counties.

The consistent word from all sources, from most partly leaders and particularly from people "on the ground" is that Nan Hayworth is still not resonating, despite confirmed stories that she is pressuring committee by committee for early endorsements.  Also, Conservatives and Republicans alike understand that the 19th is one of those rare districts in New York tailor made for a true conservative Republican.

And pro-life candidates are stepping forward, partly in protest but also somewhat curious that they can be the next Scott Brown.  It won't be that simple or easy in New York.

Last week, a story broke about a Yorktown (and D.C.) native named Tom DeChiaro "mulling" a run against Democrat Nan Hall in New York's 19th Congressional District.  The North County News quoted DeChiaro taking an openly pro-life stance.

DeChiaro, who is Catholic, said his beliefs will guide him when it comes to making decisions about policy.

“If you are a candidate who believes in the sanctity of life, you have to vote based on your belief, or you have no integrity. When it comes to core values, you can’t have a give and take.”

DeChiaro join Di Carlo in taking an open stance against abortion.  It is speculated that other pro-life candidates are lining up, possibly Conservative Avery Leidner out of Orange County and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, who lives less than a mile outside the district in Ossining (though News Copy can confirm DioGuardi's interest could be either statewide or again challenging eleven term incumbent Democrat Nita Lowey in the 18th Congressional in lower Westchester).

Orange County Republicans are expected to make their presence known in this race, especially since it is the largest and more dominant Republican portion of the 19th.  Former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden has declared with $100,000 on hand but the Times Herald-Record reported that he is already catching criticism from Nan Hayworth's campaign -- for his party registration (or lack thereof).

Jay Townsend, a consultant for Republican rival Nan Hayworth's campaign, responded to the announcement by revealing that McFadden isn't registered as a Republican – he has no party affiliation – and that he recently had a $21,441 tax lien filed against him, in addition to past tax problems.

McFadden “hasn't cared enough to register in the Conservative or Republican parties,” Townsend said. “Nor has he cared enough about our community to even pay his taxes and honor his obligations.”

This already has the feel of a competitive primary shaping up.

The North County News blog argued that a primary in the 19th would not help Republicans.

"... The lesson has not been lost on the state Republican party regarding the Democrats winning the Republican stronghold of upstate New York District 23 last November, another humiliating defeat for the old-guard GOP."

It was a liberal Republican endorsing the Democrat that cost Conservative Douglas Hoffman the primary, not the actual primary.

The other possible candidates in the race remain under the political radar or have not formally declared, though numerous sources comfirm that another wealthy candidate is weighing the option of a run and at least another "true conservative" is being courted by Republicans.

Conservative Party Opposes Zeal for Repeal of Term Limits

We stand corrected.

The Conservative Party of New York State did issue a statement in opposition to the proposed repeal of term limits by the New York City Council.

State Chairman Mike Long said such a repeat would be a "defiant act".

Not a word about Bloomberg though, just a reference to Rudy Giuliani after 9/11 -- and the need for "experience" after such a crisis.  A tacit comparison between terrorism and deflation? 

Not a word in the media about the Conservative Party's stand either, unless we missed that too.