Lazio [will run] for Congress [again]

PoliticsNY.com ^ | 3-18-02 | Enos Throop (PoliticsNY.com staff)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Lazio [will run] for Congress [again]

Sources close to former U.S. Rep. RICK LAZIO (R-Brightwaters) have told PoliticsNY.com that Lazio will run again to regain the 2nd District congressional seat he vacated to run for the U.S. Senate in 2000. Lazio will face freshman U.S. Rep. STEVE ISRAEL (D-Huntington) in what is expected to be one of the most expensive House races in the country.

During the St. Patrick's Day weekend in New York, Lazio looked like a soon-to-be candidate as he huddled with Conservative Party Chairman MIKE LONG at the 218th annual all-male dinner of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at the Sheraton Centre in Manhattan.

Apparently, U.S. Rep. TOM REYNOLDS (R-Clarence), the executive chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, made the previously reluctant Lazio an offer he couldn't refuse.

In the meantime, the GOP's chances of retaining control of the U.S. House could depend on Lazio's success in Suffolk County's 2nd Congressional District.

[Dan from Michigan]

This is a democrat leaning area that Tom Downey held for years so Lazio is the best we can get.

Probably not that much difference between Lazio and Israel, but at least Lazio won't vote for Conyors for judicial chair.

[alloysteel]

Stopping out for an election cycle is not such a bad idea. You have a chance to see and talk with potential constituents on a much more personal level, and they are reacquainted with your agenda, all the while you do not have to deal with complaints and favors asked of those who do occupy the office. While Rick Lazio may not look to be the very picture of a conservative in Montana or Texas, he is remarkably far removed from the fever-swamp type of liberal that seems to prevade much of New York State politics.

[Torie]

I must say that in my memory, I have never seen both parties work the pawns on the chessboard for control of the House with this intensity before to get the right nominees, and the right districts. It is no holds bared in most places, with lawsuits everywhere. Davis did some of this last time, but he was working under the radar screen, and it may have made the difference. In any event, both are in the game big time now.

And that is why it makes it so much fun to watch.

[Fish out of Water]

Index bump

[GraniteStateConservative]

Well, two things: redistricting in NY isn't done yet, and Lazio's decision to run might affect redistricting (it might be too late to change the maps, but my guess is that the GOP-- which controls 2/3rds of the process-- decided to make the CD even more Democrat to help other GOPers in the state before this decision by Lazio); and Lazio has easily won re-election in the past (average of 61% in 94, 96, and 98 for example) while NY-2 voted for Clinton by 20 points-- Lazio is the only guy that can win here.

With Bush's resurgence in popularity in New York, Lazio's race will be even easier.

[rmlew]

Israel won the 2nd District because the Republican party ran a candidate whose views were indistinguishable from his and conservatives ran a third party candidate.
Israel only won with 45% of the vote.

[jwalsh07]

I have a picture in my mind of cigarette butts, a half full bottle of whiskey, two crts glowing in semi darkness and a man poring through documents with an other worldly grin on his face.

[Torie]

Israel got 48%, and a Greenie 5%.

[Torie]

Well, you have a vivid imagination. :)

[firebrand]

[jjlkovacs]

bump for Enrico!

[nutmeg]

WOO-HOO! He's running! Gotta get that 'copter up and running... :-)

[concerned about politics]

Now that America knows the real Clinton legacy, I'd like to see Lazio run for Senate again.
No doubt, massive voter fraud by Dems was in high gear. They were neck and neck in the polls, and Lazio was raking in the cash compared to Hitlery - who got her cash from terrorist groups (got caught )and Hollywood Commies.
Homeless people were bussed in, and who knows how many mutts voted for Hitlery.
I would like to see another run by Lazio. This time, the right will be ready for what happened in NY last time. No one expected the fraud to be so blantant, and the Lazio switches will all be expected to work this time.

[nutmeg]

[tubebender]

I hope he runs a better campaign this time but it was short notice. My wife and I sent money to Rudy G when it looked like he would run.(thank goodness he didn't re; 9/11) I hope he sends our money to Simon.

[tellw]

I think Lazio will re-take this seat, and I will go out on a limb to say that he will beat Hillary in 2006 if she is running again. I also think he will be the GOP candidate for President in 2008. There I said it! You wanna make something of it? ;)

[BluesDuke]

Good news that we will have someone stepping up to the plate.

Yeah - a political equivalent to Marvelous Marv Throneberry. Actually, that's unfair - to Marvelous Marv, that is. Rick Lazyboy had Hilarious Rodent Clinton primed for the knockout after those debates and he dropped the balls faster than Marvelous Marv. Marvelous Marv at least won a few games with some timely belts in the late innings (like the game in which he went to the coaching lines, actually, after a Met coach got thrown out arguing, then got called on to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and went yard on the best relief pitcher in the National League at the time - Elroy Face of the Pirates - for the game).

[Torie]

This from the NRCC is kind of fun to read. Of course, they call all the tossups for the GOP, bless them.

[StriperSniper]

I also think he will be the GOP candidate for President in 2008.

Condi in '08!

[concerned about politics]

. I also think he will be the GOP candidate for President in 2008. There I said it! You wanna make something of it? ;)

That's not a bad idea. Start priming him for the run now. He's young, and his record is squeekie clean. He's attractive enough to get the womans "arousal" vote, and the right gets the real mans vote. He could be a great canidate.