Joel Giambra Considering Run at U.S. Senate

WBEN News Radio ^ | Monday, January 5, 2004 06:08 PM | WBEN Newsroom -

[The Mayor]

Joel Giambra Considering Run at U.S. Senate WBEN Newsroom - Monday, January 5, 2004 06:08 PM

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Erie County Executive Joel Giambra is among the top New York Republicans being considered to challenge Charles Schumer in this year's U.S. Senate race.

Giambra tells NewsRadio 930 WBEN he's been in contact with GOP leaders in Washington and Albany to discuss a possible Senate run.

Giambra says he's still in a "listening phase," and has not yet come to a final decision.

He says he'll likely make a decision within the next 30 to 45 days, and would only choose to run if he felt he had a realistic chance at defeating Schumer.

Giambra said it's unlikely he'd be able to match the $20 million dollar warchest Schumer has raised so far in his bid for a second term in the Senate.

Erie County Executive Joel Giambra

[The Mayor]

This was announced in the 6 PM News broadcast on WBEN Radio.

Joel announced that he is being courted by Washington and State Officals to run against Chuck Schumer for this years election.

Joel is in his second term as County Executive for Erie County.

[The Mayor]

Your opinions wanted please....

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[Dan from Michigan]

From county "mayor" to senate? Tough jump.

Good luck to whoever runs against SCUMer.

[The Mayor]

I'm pinging any and all freepers from New York

[The Mayor]

He has a bigger jump to make as far as money goes, Schumer has 20 million $$ war chest.

[Dan from Michigan]

I think money is big, but name recognition is bigger.(although they are related) If he works hard and has enough people helping that don't think it's a lost cause, he could possibly make some noise and cause some problems for SCUMer.

There's always one big upset each year. I'd love for it to be SCUMer.

[The Mayor]

Ping!

[The Mayor]

I agree with you, Joel just beat the #1 democrat in basically a landslide here in Erie County.

So he has the name here, my concern will be NYCity of course.

[Pubbie]

It looks like Giambra would be a sacrificial lamb.

Schumer is very well liked in NY, and the state has become hopelessley liberal.

I think Pataki would be a better bet, but I don't think he's interested.

[The Mayor]

Thoughts Ping..

[Bringbackthedraft]

He looks like another Lazio to me.

[The Mayor]

It looks like Giambra would be a sacrificial lamb.

That's exactly what Joel said he would not be. I don't think he would run if he new he was going to lose.

[Pubbie]

Hey, if he thinks he can take down Schumer then he should try.

I must confess I don't know much about Giambra.

Do you think he has a shot?

[JohnnyZ]

I think he can get at least 40% and a Big Name statewide from running.

[PeteyBoy]

I live in a county that is next to his and I don't think he has a chance. The only one who has a chance at beating Schumer is Gulliani. Schumer gets excellent press in our local, mostly conservative, newspaper. Just my opinion.

[nicmarlo]

I think, as another FReeper posted, it would be like another Lazio run....BECAUSE of NYC. There are pockets of liberals throughout NY, of course, but it is overwhelmingly liberal in NYC. I would said, from what little I know (having only moved back to NY a year and a half ago) Central and upstate NY would most likely vote out Schumer (to just about any conservative). But you've got to deal with NYC. And BTW, that's where Hitlery and Schumer spend all their time, pandering and money....they've done nothing to help the economic climiate, whatsoever, in Central/Upstate....the economy up here is D-E-A-D. Businesses keep closing/moving away. Those that stay have been reducing benefits for employees and/or cutting back on the number of employees hired. Many residents have moved away or are planning to....the cost of living here is high, especially because of constantly increasing taxes and state fees, and wages are very low....it's awful!

If Giambra can do something about getting votes away from NYC liberals....he'd have a chance, IMHO.

[The Mayor]

Do you think he has a shot?

I think it's a good possibility. I supported him in both elections even though the support I thought I had from him for my election was thrown out the window like dirty bath water.

He is the most powerful Republican in this part of the state. He has taken over control of the legislature and some demonrats have jumped ship to join him.

Joel actually said he was on his own listening tour, I am going to send him this thread, actually to the Deputy County Ex Carl Calabrese.

[Clemenza]

Nic, Let's not forget Lawn Guyland and Westchester, which voted for Clinton and Gore and gave strong showings to Schumer (he almost beat D'Amato in Alphonse's home county of Nassau).

I will help campaign for Joel if he gets the nomination, but it will be an uphill battle.