Rudy will do well with Italians, and if he does win NY state, that's how it will happen. Unfortunately, he may not do well with (increasingly liberal) non-ethnics, Hispanics, and Jews. After all, D'Amato -- who is a very skilled politician -- was defeated handily by Schmuck Schumer, and that was eight years ago. Politically, NY has gotten even worse in subsequent years.
However, Alfonse was not a household name. Everyone knows Mayor Rudy.