News Copy, New York

New York Republicans Fail Again To Find Candidate For Governor: Want To Run For Governor?

Want to run for New York State Govermor?

George Marlin is being mentioned by high-ranking Conservatives.

Carl Paladino has been encouraged by Tom Golisano.

Rick Lazio was supposed to be the candidate.

And now Steve Levy has seemingly been crowned by the State GOP chairman.

I personally experienced the misadventure of Pierre Rinfret's selection in 1990 ('the horror, the horror"), working the New York GOP convention in Rye that year.

"It was said that he was chosen after 19 other potential candidates refused to run, and that his name was chosen almost at random, from some politico's rolodex."

Rinfret's nomination was presented to the public in a side lobby of the hotel, almost as if the Republicans wanted to get it over before anyone objected (or Rinfret escaped the building).

With State Republican Chairman Ed Cox now declaring Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy his candidate, Republicans throughout New York must be feeling as if their own leadership has left them behind.

Levy was a Democrat until a few days ago.  Though touted by a cross-section of Conservatives in Suffolk County, New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long -- who has been supporting Rick Lazio -- told Daily Politics that he isn't part of this cabal:

"I believe it's insulting to me what Steve is doing - whether it's his idea of Ed Cox's - by trying to intimidate us to back off," Long said. "I initially wanted to work closely with Ed Cox. Apparently, while we were supposed to be working closely, he was out busy recruiting Steve Levy to run for governor."

Rick Lazio needs to fire Arthur Finkelstein.  If Lazio doesn't understand why, he shouldn't be running for governor.

I attended a wonderful gathering for Lazio in Eastchester, home of former State Republican Chairman Tony Colavita, but we all only had less than a day's notice from the Lazio campaign.  That's the mark of a poorly run campaign -- and is it any wonder than the State GOP chairman is searching for another candidate?

Maybe if the State GOP was spending less time talking to a Democrat, a Republican could be found to run against Andrew Cuomo.

Dan Collins of The Huffington Post called it pathetic.

"There haven't been any statewide Republican stars since George Pataki. And if George Pataki is your idea of a star ... A I said, it's pathetic.  Michael Bloomberg was/is a phony Republican. Rudy Giuliani was one for the first and better half of his political career. Mort Zuckerman, the Daily News publisher, was one for the three minutes that he contemplated running for the Senate."

Is it a repeat of 1990, where no one wants to run?  Or does this have more to do with New York State Republican Committee opting not to talk to certain candidates over others?

There are plenty of quality candidates to choose from; mayors of large and mid-sized cities, county executives, state senators, town supervisors and even a few effective members of the assembly who have the gravitas to propel a statewide ticket.

I'm not sure if Ed Cox is overwhelmed (a lot of well-intended leaders have found themselves inundated with new candidates this year), misguided or just unwilling (or unable) to make such a powerful decision as a leader.

But Mike Long has made the same mistakes, particularly with Pataki, and a treacherous number of Republican and Conservative county leaders have ruined a laundry list of multi-county legislative races for 20 years now.

Fred Dicker of the New York Post noted the irony.

Who would have thought the looming GOP primary would make Democrats in general, and Andrew "I'm still not ready to announce yet" Cuomo in particular, seem like old hat and a bore?

Gabe Pressman of NBC called it Machiavellian.

"Levy had choreographed his departure from the Democratic party efficiently. A succession of Republican county chairmen, quickly fell in line. He was endorsed by John Jay Lavalle of Suffolk County. Queens GOP chair Phil Ragusa. who had endorsed Lazio in January, switched to Levy. And so did the Bronx Republican leader, Jay Savino."

Pressman is reporting that Levy is also supported by John Faso, who ran for governor four years ago.

But why would Faso facilitate a rush to a Democrat, undoubtedly undermining his own fundraising prowess for Republicans?

I somehow doubt Faso is behind Levy, though it sadly smatters of the internal party divisiveness that plagued Jim Tedisco's run -- where the failure of rejected 20th C.D. aspirants Betty Little and Faso to support the upstate Assemblyman affected the outcome.  

Levy boasts of $4 million. Lazio had nearly $2 million on hand but Lazio now has $637,000.

Fox News called him a "new" Republican:

On social issues, Levy says he is pro-choice but is against partial birth abortion and on the topic of gay rights that he is in favor of civil unions but marriage should be between a man and a woman.  When asked about the healthcare bill, Levy said this is “not the right bill.”

Tea Party leaders met with Levy last week.  Some walked out.  Others expressed disappointment over his dodging of issues.  His failure to articulate support of Second Amendment rights also will doom him with Conservatives statewide and most of upstate New York north of White Plains.

Levy appeared finished on arrival last week.  Why is Cox risking the integrity of his leadership by floating a Republican in name only whose signature on the registration is still drying?

Enter Carl Paladino in Buffalo, who has $10 million dollars ready for a run and the backing of former Independence Party leader Tom Golisano.

Paladino could be announcing in less than two weeks.

Conservatives are meeting in Brooklyn today, debating a long list of statewide, state senate and assembly races.

One name that will be floated by Conservatives is George Marlin, a party member who doesn't need permission to cause trouble as a third party candidate.  Another will be U.S. Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi, a Republican who D.C. powerbrokers would prefer to see pushed out of the Gillibrand race in deference to Dan Senor

The difference between Conservative Chair Mike Long and Cox is that Long has a lifetime of leading (and managing) maverick independent candidates whose credentials seized statewide posts.

Love them now or hate them, Al D'Amato with his run in 1980 and Pataki with his challenge to Mario Cuomo in 1994 paved a path to victory.  Mike Long can also take credit for managing Jim Buckley's third party win as a Conservative in 1970 -- and nearly knocking Republicans in New York down to third party status with Herb London in 1990.

In other words, whatever the Chairman says this afternoon in Brooklyn should be heeded by all sides.

The Buffalo News reported Tom Palandino asking Conservatives to wait. 

 

 This man looks like he is for real.

Republican Andrew Russo Building Support In 49th State Senate District: Central New York District One That Got Away

State Senate Republicans have endured a few election cycles where little seemed to align correctly in upstate New York's 49th district.  With Andrew Russo gaining support from Conservatives and key Republicans in Central New York, the GOP might finally have someone who can beat Democratic Sen. David Valesky.

Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro has endorsed Russo, reported the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Pirro characterized Russo positively as a political outsider.

"Andrew has pledged to fight for lower taxes, work to eliminate wasteful Albany spending and reform our government so it works better for taxpayers. And, he will be an outspoken advocate for Central New York. In my opinion, our Party would be well served to nominate a political outsider for the Senate this year."

With three of four county Conservative committees already endorsing Russo, the hope is that all four Republican commitees will back him too.

The fear is another split, this time caused by Republicans backing Village of East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.  Also in the race is Syracuse businesswoman Jessica Crawford. 

Conservatives aren't supporting Liedka and there is every indication that a primary would leave Republicans bruised again in the 49th.  The back story here goes back to a 2006 when State Senate insiders (on then State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's watch) beat up Republican Tom Dadey -- dividing the vote -- and handing the race to Valesky. 

There's still bad blood and the warnings out of the district are that Liedka is carrying some financial baggage, both in terms of his own financial troubles and the taxes in East Syracuse.  It's the highest village tax rate in the 49th State Senate District.

Liedka also put his name on a letter defending Valesky last year.

Russo getting Pirro's endorsement and the overwhelming support of Conservative Party support should help Republicans reclaim the 49th, if they all play well together.  Russo has secured Conservatives endorsements from Onondaga, Madison and Cayuga counties (and is expected to get Oneida).

Conservative chairs have indicated that a major endorsement of Russo by New York State Conservative Chairman Mike Long is also forthcoming.

Republicans are meeting Wednesday, 3/2, to make their own minds up.

Over Before It Started: Paterson Exits Gubernatorial Race

New York State Governor David Paterson has ended his election campaign, making the announcement about an hour ago.

“There’s more work to do, and up until the last few days I was looking forward to participating in a full four-year term,” he said. “But I am being realistic about politics. It hasn’t been the latest distraction, it has been an accumulation of obstacles that have obfuscated me from bringing my message to the public. Therefore, there are times in politics when you have to know not to strive for service, but to step back. And that moment has come for me.”

“In the last few days, it has become increasingly clear to me that I cannot run for office and try to manage the state’s business at the same time,” he continued. “In addition, I am looking forward to a full investigation of actions taken by myself and my administration. But I give you this personal oath: I have never abused my office, not now, not ever. And I believe that when the facts are revealed the truth will prevail.”

Distraction?

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long called for Paterson's resignation.

But the New York Daily News went back to something Paterson said in July of 2008, where he puts forth the rationalization that he has only been called an "accidental" governor because he is black.

What really happened here?

Albany is stubburn, even to one of their insiders.  Racism had nothing to do with it.  Andrew Cuomo will face as much resistance from his own party as Paterson.

The problem is Sheldon Silver.

The problem has been a cross-section of Democrats whose seats have belonged to the same insiders since the mid-1970s when Watergate gave liberals in New York a beachhead in the Assembly.

The New York Times gets their last word, banging the nails loudly into Paterson's political coffin.

"As he prepared for the Friday announcement, some newspaper editorial writers were demanding more than an end to his candidacy: they called for his resignation. That had only added to the increasing sense that it would be nearly impossible for him to run the state and the campaign with the abuse case in the background."

Then who runs New York?

Between now and January of of 2011, with New York bound legally by then to a budget that won't change dramatically until April 1, 2012, a fiscal crisis will consume the Empire State.

Who will lead New York?

A lame duck governor who could yet resign, a replacement who was not elected (whose standing will likely be challenged again in court), a State Senate without a clear leader (where everyone's standing will likely be challenged again in court), a corrupt Assembly Speaker who answers to no one (whose standing is never challenged because he controls the courts), a governor-in-waiting who inherits a crisis that will be much worse by the time he is sworn 11 months from now?

One has to forecast this state government's fiscal crisis two years into the future to entirely grasp what just happened an hour ago.

Steamroller ...

Old Republican/Conservative Battle Lines In 49th SD: Russo Backed By Tom Dadey

Another conversation with the NRCC did reveal what sounded like some level of exasperation with the county chairs over how they forced Dede Scozzafava upon the 23rd Congressional race -- without a thought to the consequences.

County chairs are at it again in the 49th State Senate District, a race against Democrat David Valesky that is probably for more important than any Congressional or statewide race in New York this year.

The Albany Times Union reported the Onondaga County Conservatives giving the edge to Andrew Russo, who is backed by Tom Dadey (who News Copy's readers will recall could have won this seat in 2006, had the rocket scientists in Joe Bruno's State Senate Campaign Committee not shanghai'd him).

County leaders are pushing East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.  Also in the race is Jessica Crawford.

Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog naturally paid close attention to the jockeying back and forth in this all-important upstate senate district, particularly concerns by Conservatives and State Chairman Mike Long that Republicans will find a way to self-sabotage another race.

Benjamin explained that the final endorsement decision will be up to Long and his state committee. As per party rules, when a district crosses county lines, the state leaders get to make the final call.

"If all the counties are in line with each other, it will make my job much easier," Long told me this afternoon. "If there's a division, I met with all three candidates and I will probably meet with them again."

"...I won't try to override the county leaders," the chairman continued. "If it's unanimous, I'll announce my support for that candidate right away. But I've been at war with this district before. I'm not averse to making a decision. I have to make it if I feel strongly one way or the other."

"Personally, I would prefer to have a unified ticket with the Conservatives and the Republicans. I think we have a shot to take back the seat. It will be difficult, but we have a shot."

Long might dare such an override in a handful of Congressional and State Senate races, including the 19th Congressional District and again the 23th.

In Westchester County, for example. County Conservative chair Gail Burns is at war with almost all Conservative leaders over endorsing a Democrat over pro-life conservative Republican Rob Astorino in last year's county executive race (Astorino would win 57-43%).

A repeat of such contrarian politics by Burns (she is expected to endorse Democrat Assemblyman Mike Spano) would almost guarantee State Committee's involvement in a jigsaw of districts overlapping from the Bronx to the farthest reachest of Dutchess and Orange.

The 49th includes all of Madison County and parts of Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga

Mike Long could be very busy this year playing referee all over New York State.

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.