Posted on 12/21/2011 10:50:37 AM PST by reefdiver
A bevy of prominent New York Republicans endorsed Mitt Romney’s candidacy for the presidency Tuesday, saying the former Massachusetts governor represents the GOP’s best chance to beat President Obama.
And in saying so, some of them said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich would likely fare far worse against Obama — and might just pull other Republicans on the ballot down to defeat, as well.
“I think Mitt Romney represents the best chance for Republicans to win the White House,” said former Erie County Republican Chairman Robert E. Davis.
“I just don’t see Newt Gingrich beating Barack Obama. He’s controversial.”
What’s more, Davis said, Gingrich’s lack of appeal to a broad range of voters could damage the entire 2012 Republican ticket if he were the party’s presidential nominee.
While Gingrich has proved to be popular among tea party Republicans, John Faso — a former Assembly minority leader and GOP gubernatorial candidate — said Romney “will appeal to the broad center.”
Asked about Gingrich, Faso said: “He’s a great idea man, but I don’t think he is a viable candidate for president. I think that during his speaker-ship, he had some great successes, but also some notable difficulties.”
Faso said Democrats would run a harshly negative campaign to exploit Gingrich’s difficulties, which include paying a $300,000 fine for using tax-exempt groups for political purposes while serving as speaker.
Meanwhile, Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards said: “Our leader has to have the capacity to understand the economy and jobs and job creation. That’s not where Newt’s strengths lie.”
Among those lavishing praise on Romney was Erie County Republican Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy.
“The biggest goal should be picking the candidate who is most capable of defeating President Obama in November,” Langworthy said. “Mitt Romney’s experience in business, his experience in government and his overall accomplishments make him that candidate.”
Langworthy said he was particularly impressed with Romney’s performance in debates. “He’s the one you could see going toe-to-toe with Barack Obama,” Langworthy said.
Niagara County Republican Chairman Michael J. Norris also stressed Romney’s business and government experience and said he would be an appealing GOP presidential candidate in Western New York.
Former Rep. Jack F. Quinn Jr., Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard and former Erie County GOP Chairman James Domagalski were also on the list of 45 prominent Republicans backing Romney.
The list also includes Rep. Michael
G. Grimm, R-Staten Island, and Rep. Nan A. Hayworth, R-Bedford, but not Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, who has said he has no plans yet to endorse a candidate.
Romney announced the New York endorsements, saying: “I am so pleased to have the support of these New York leaders. They know how necessary it is that we create an economic climate that allows us to create jobs and rebuild the middle class.”
More evidence that Mitt is not a conservative and not fit to be our nominee.
I would just bet that those States where the GOP chooses Romney as their top choice will all be States where Obama wins.
Prime example of why the NY GOP is so weak.
so who’s Scozzafava endorsing?
In one of my wild ranting posts a few days ago I had a sentence or two on this.
Every Republican party organization in every town, county (or parish) and State across the whole country is a key part of the core of “the establishment”.
It makes you so angry it’s beyond words, you just have to forget it and move on.
These are the people who “select” people who are nominated for every elected office across the nation. Since they largely control the nominating process, they control who is elected. Democrat=vanilla, Republican=chocolate, pick your poison.
IMHO, get locally active, bigtime. Either rework the Repub party from the ground up or jump into a Conservative party and work to end the Repub party.
Otherwise.... it’s business as usual. Except we’re headed for disaster, so “usual” ain’t gonna cut it in the not-too-distant future.
IMHO.
These losers are endorsing Romney - because their true love, George Pataki, is not available!
Cowards. Afraid to fight. Weak. Well, coming from one of the biggest liberal dung heaps in the USA, no surprise.
*** THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT IN ACTION ***
This probably cost something in the making. And it is why I quit the Repub party over six years ago.
Many here are wondering how Ron Paul can be leading (or close to it) in Iowa, and in double-digits nationally.
But, this article is your answer. He’s essentially a protest vote against the kind of establishment that is firmly in power in the GOP, and keeps giving us candidates like McCain and Romney.
He may be a disaster if actually elected, but he represents a slap at the Rockefeller gang.
Sarah Palin is a somewhat less extreme version of the same thing.
More reasons NOT to vote for him!!!!!!!!!!!
From what I hear, the biggest growth industry in upstate NY is welfare.
Milquetoast Mitt!!!!!
The party establishment really wants this to be over as soon as possible. I’m afraid they don’t realize Mitt’s spinelessness is not going to play well in the south. The base wants a fighter. . . not a bag of mush.
“RINO Republicanism” is its own political party, and this is the ongoing problem for conservatives within the GOP, when dealing with the parts of the U.S. where RINOS dominate the GOP.
Thought so. So, why do we care what the New York GOP thinks?
I can see New York Republicans endorsing Romney.
Look on the bright side, New York had 41 electoral votes in my first presidential election (1976).
Actually, the biggest growth industry is rental trucks to move out.
Republicans don’t give a crap what ANYONE in NY has to say. The State won’t go for any Republican because it is Moscow on the Hudson. So keep your endoresements to yourself. The country will survive w/o NY. Better you should all vote for Obama - he’s your type!
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