"NYS could do a LOT worse (e.g., any Democrat and most NY Republicans)."
The point is to let the D states vote in these walking disasters. Once it becomes apparent that they can't help maintain the standard of living in their state, then it's an opportunity for a conservative Republican to win a blue state gubernatorial election.
It worked for Reagan, on the national level. Imagine how things would have turned out if the party chose a "moderate" republican for '80 on the basis that he'd be less worse than the Dem? That standard is not good enough, not any more.
NYS has had a GOP governor for 12 years. Nice strategy, inappropriate case.