New York gave Bam our love - but he despises us
You vote in Illinois, sir
Posted on 01/16/2010 4:04:43 PM PST by neverdem
Key Republicans, including former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, are urging Rick Lazio to drop his long-shot bid for governor and challenge embattled -- and vulnerable -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, The Post has learned.
D'Amato, who once worked closely with Lazio during his tenure as a Long Island congressman, told Lazio in a face-to-face meeting late last month that "you can't win for governor, but you can beat Gillibrand."
"He told Lazio that [Attorney General Andrew] Cuomo is going to be the Democratic nominee for governor and that if he finally wants to have a chance of winning a statewide election, he should run against Gillibrand," said a source familiar with the discussion.
"Alfonse also told Lazio that he would support him for the Senate -- even though he has ties to Gillibrand -- but couldn't support him for governor," the source continued.
D'Amato, an influential lobbyist and friend of Gillibrand's father, longtime Albany Democratic lobbyist-operative Douglas Rutnik, raised eyebrows last year when he hosted a fund-raising event for Cuomo.
State GOP Chairman Ed Cox, who favors Erie County Executive Chris Collins for governor, has also signaled Lazio that his best chance of winning statewide office is to take on Gillibrand.
"Senate is where Ed thinks Rick should go," said a GOP insider.
Lazio, who lost to former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2000 Senate race, has insisted he's only interested in running for governor...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Lazio wont have honestly a chance against cuomo, he is poling far too strongly, where as against Gillibrand its possible. If Cuomo goes for the Gov as the Dem candidate, he’ll win in a landslide. Thats the reality of it.
I've had more respect for Paterson since I've heard him on John Gambling's show a couple of times and since he had to cajones to do something totally unexpected during the legislative standoff last summer.
Don’t count Paterson out, he’s a bit of a fighter but i still suspect if Paterson runs again for Gov as the candidate, he’ll get slaughtered by anyone.
If the winds are against the Dems in November as they are now then Cuomo has no better then a 50/50 chance of winning both the Dem nod and the general.
Only true if the GOP can find a candidate to run. A real candidate, not a Pierre Rinfret candidate.
Lazio needs to do something else if he won’t sit down and shut up. Sure run for senate, drop the gov race he will lose. Collins? Have you ever heard of him? Doubt it and he is my county executive and I campaigned with him 2 years ago.
I hope Paterson stays in and there is a primary. Cuomo will damage himself if he does go against him and will not pick up the black vote. At least with Paterson we know what we got, he is the only one at least talking a good game, if he won he would have a mandate.
Parents arrested for failing to register home-schooled kids NY
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
Lazio has lost and lost. Doesn’t NY have a more viable candidate? The upstate vote could give a win to the Republicans but you need a candidate who can win.
Maybe you mentioned Collins before. Other than that, no. I heard almost nothing about who's going to take on Schumer except some Latino nobody from NYC. I can't remember his name.
I asked the same thing on another thread.
Thanks for the links & front page. Too bad Mike Goodwin was oblivious to Obama & Obama’s pals prior to the election in 2008.
That’s not a bad idea.
Re: Schumer: Martin Chicon, he’s a disrict leader in north Manhattan I believe.
Loosio couldn’t beat a paper bag. He’s a perennial candidate who runs for every office he sees.
Thanks for the ping!
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