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NY Conservatives Split on '08 GOP Nominee
Human Events ^ | Feb 12, 2007 | John Gizzi

Posted on 02/12/2007 12:11:10 PM PST by Reagan Man

Albany, New York -- Arriving here last night following a weekend of "Rudy-mania" at the California Republican State Convention, I found the attitude toward Rudy Giuliani's '08 Presidential candidacy quite different at the annual conference of the Conservative Party of New York.

As it was here in 2000 when he briefly considered a bid for the U.S. Senate for the seat eventually won by Hillary Clinton, Giuliani's name provokes instant and strong response among Members of the 45-year-old Conservative Party, which holds the fourth line (Row D) on the Empire State ballot and whose cross-endorsement has been key to Republicans winning office here.

"I couldn't find one Republican leader whose endorsement [for the Senate] Rudy asked for, but they kept endorsing him anyway," recalled Conservative Party State Chairman Mike Long, who was cool to his party giving the ballot line for Senate to the then-New York mayor seven years ago, "My view was that, when the chips were down and if there was no other candidate, the Conservative Party would do it. But all we wanted first was for Rudy to say he was against partial birth abortion. He never did." (The clash over whether Conservatives giving their blessing to Giuliani's Senate bid never took place; in early 2000, he abruptly ended his Senate campaign and cited his treatment for prostate cancer).

"I'm for Mitt Romney," former Rep. Rick Lazio (R.-N.Y.), who was the 2000 Republican Conservative candidate against Clinton, told me without hesitation. He added that the former Massachusetts governor "has the executive experience, is a competent manager, pro-growth, for lower taxes, and a 'Mr. Fixit' -- he saved the winter Olympics and then got his state out of a $3 billion deficit."

But others in the small-but-influential party are more open to backing the former mayor for president. Paul Atanasio, former U.S. House candidate and businessman in New York City, said that while he disagrees on the social issues, "I get the impression from recent interviews he is moving away from some of the stands he has taken on issues like abortion." The former U.S. Marine said he would consider backing Giuliani for President "because he's shown he's a strong leader."

Over breakfast this morning, Atanasio recalled the session yesterday of the Conservative conclave, where participants were asked to raise hands over who was their favorite Republican for '08 and "no one got more than five hands raised each."

Echoed Mike Long: "There is some interest in Mitt Romney, and some in the ranks are for Senator McCain. [Kansas Sen.] Sam Brownback was the speaker at our dinner and got the best response to his speech. It's really wide open for us."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; california; electionpresident; elections; giuliani; giuliani2008; gop; republicans; rmthread
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1 posted on 02/12/2007 12:11:15 PM PST by Reagan Man
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To: wagglebee; cgk; sitetest; jla; Fierce Allegiance; NapkinUser; EternalVigilance; Spiff; dirtboy; ...

2008 GOP primary campaign PING


2 posted on 02/12/2007 12:12:35 PM PST by Reagan Man (Conservatives don't vote for liberals.)
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To: All

Rep. Pete Sessions just endorsed Rudy and he has a 98% lifetime ACU Rating.


3 posted on 02/12/2007 12:13:46 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they captured or killed.)
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To: Reagan Man
... I found the attitude toward Rudy Giuliani's '08 Presidential candidacy quite different at the annual conference of the Conservative Party of New York.

Being a member of another party might have something to do with that, John.
4 posted on 02/12/2007 12:14:11 PM PST by Terpfen (Got a problem? It's now Pelosi's fault!)
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To: Reagan Man

Interesting how NY Conservatives are tepid at best about supprting Rudy. They DO know the guy pretty good.


5 posted on 02/12/2007 12:15:07 PM PST by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08)
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To: Terpfen
Being a member of another party might have something to do with that, John.

I guess you missed this part:

Members of the 45-year-old Conservative Party, which holds the fourth line (Row D) on the Empire State ballot and whose cross-endorsement has been key to Republicans winning office here.

6 posted on 02/12/2007 12:15:51 PM PST by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08)
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To: Peach
Rep. Pete Sessions just endorsed Rudy and he has a 98% lifetime ACU Rating.

Source? Thanks.

7 posted on 02/12/2007 12:16:17 PM PST by FreeReign (Still waiting for the best conservative candidate.)
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To: Reagan Man
Please put me on your ping list Reagan Man.

Thanks.

8 posted on 02/12/2007 12:16:32 PM PST by DocH (Gun-grabbers, you can HAVE my guns... lead first.)
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To: Peach
I found the attitude toward Rudy Giuliani's '08 Presidential candidacy quite different at the annual conference of the Conservative Party of New York.

Rudy never ran as a conservative, he ran on two lines in NYC. He ran as the Republican candidate and the Liberal Party candidate. Why should the Conservative Party endorse him? He also endorsed Mario Cuomo for Governor. That's a crime.

9 posted on 02/12/2007 12:17:15 PM PST by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Reagan Man

If Brownback would return to his roots as a clear fiscal conservative he would have a very good shot at winning. He is both fiscally and socially conservative at his core. Unfortunately he has picked up some of Bush's "compassionate conservative" nonsense.


10 posted on 02/12/2007 12:17:16 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: FreeReign

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783545/posts


11 posted on 02/12/2007 12:17:48 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they captured or killed.)
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To: Reagan Man
"I couldn't find one Republican leader whose endorsement [for the Senate] Rudy asked for, but they kept endorsing him anyway," recalled Conservative Party State Chairman Mike Long

What's wrong with these people?! Don't they know that no conservatives would possibly support Giuliani? /s

12 posted on 02/12/2007 12:17:59 PM PST by My2Cents ("I support the right-ward most candidate who has a legitimate chance to win." -- W.F. Buckley)
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To: Reagan Man
he's shown he's a strong leader."

He has? When? He was on TV a lot around 9/11 from what I hear....if you want to call that leadership.
13 posted on 02/12/2007 12:18:18 PM PST by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: Peach

Maybe Pete Sessions should run then.....


14 posted on 02/12/2007 12:18:56 PM PST by rwh
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To: Peach
Rep. Pete Sessions just endorsed Rudy and he has a 98% lifetime ACU Rating.

But, Peach, it's that remaining 2% which makes him suspect. ;-)

15 posted on 02/12/2007 12:18:57 PM PST by My2Cents ("I support the right-ward most candidate who has a legitimate chance to win." -- W.F. Buckley)
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To: Reagan Man
NY Conservatives

All four of them?

16 posted on 02/12/2007 12:20:16 PM PST by RockinRight (When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he checks under the bed for Jack Bauer.)
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To: Peach

Source link?


17 posted on 02/12/2007 12:21:00 PM PST by Fierce Allegiance ("Campers laugh at clowns behind closed doors." GOHUNTER08!)
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To: Reagan Man
It's really wide open for us.

22 more months.
18 posted on 02/12/2007 12:21:18 PM PST by Delphinium
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

He's also gone soft on Iraq.


19 posted on 02/12/2007 12:21:18 PM PST by RockinRight (When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he checks under the bed for Jack Bauer.)
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To: P-40
He has? When? He was on TV a lot around 9/11 from what I hear....if you want to call that leadership.

Try educating yourself, or is that too much to ask?


20 posted on 02/12/2007 12:21:28 PM PST by My2Cents ("I support the right-ward most candidate who has a legitimate chance to win." -- W.F. Buckley)
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