Capital Confidential has published a letter sent by Chris Collins to Chairman Ed Cox informing the State head that he will not run for governor.
“Despite my decision, I want to express to you with the utmost sincerity my appreciation for all you have done on my behalf these past few months,” Collins wrote. “I appreciate the sacrifice of your time to meet with me and provide your advice regarding this important decision.”Collins did not endorse or mention Lazio in his letter. He told the Buffalo News that “he’s got a tough row to hoe, especially when you look at his fund-raising numbers…I’ll just leave it that I wish him good luck.”
This all but paves the way for Rick Lazio being the Republican candidate for governor in 2010
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written by Quickjustice , January 27, 2010
Another sacrificial lamb. Too bad. After our local victories in Queens, Nassau County, and Westchester, this could have been a great year for Republicans in New York.
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written by Daniel Peterson , January 27, 2010
QJ, I think the State GOP is putting certain things on priority and certain things on secondary.
It seems governor and US Senate is not a priority, which is a shame b/c we could really walk away with at least one US Senate seat this year.
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written by Frank Ammendolea , January 27, 2010
I like Collins and I believe he has a future on a statewide ticket, but he needs some more polish and experience before he makes such a run.
Some of his reported comments recently appeared to be ill-advised at best and plain stupid at worst. This would have destroyed him in a statewide contest against Cuomo.
It's now Lazio's race and he will likely lose. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but it's more probable than not. He is a dull candidate who doesn't inspire the grassroots activists and his biggest claim to fame outside of Long Island is that he lost badly to Hillary Clinton. Now I know there is a school of thought out there that says he should not be blamed for that - that any Republican would have lost to her that year - but the fact remains that he was the Republican who did, and he looked very bad doing it.
At this point, I think Dan is right. The state GOP has probably written off the Gov race and is probably going to write off both Senate seats UNLESS Blakeman shows the capacity to raise a lot of money and make it a race, OR Pataki jumps in and they can usher Blakeman out and into another run for Comptroller.
Otherwise, it looks like Cox is focusing on taking back the State Senate (they just picked up a top recruited candidate in Nassau - Mineola Mayor Jack Martins is going to run against Craig Johnson in the 7th S.D.) and maybe grabbing the open A.G. seat if Dan Donovan runs. I believe we are leaving chips on the table, and should run aggressive races everywhere, but I guess that's why I'm just a foot soldier committeeman and not a candidate for office.
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written by Jay Golub , January 27, 2010
why all the down comments?!
In my view, I think Lazio definately beats Paterson and, if Cuomo runs a primary and wins, Lazio CAN beat him too - especially because of the mess that will be left behind after such a divisive primary.
Besides, Lazio will be exponentially more helpful to the effort of taking back the State Senate - as a downstate Republican who now shouldn't have to go through a rough primary himself, he can focus on the swing vote that will be critical in his race and, btw, that same swing vote will be what decides races like the one the Nassau...
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written by Daniel Peterson , January 27, 2010
Lazio does have name recognition and this time, he's had all the time in the world to build support within the base. IN 2000 he was interested in running for Senate and then opted out when Giuliani stepped in.
When Giuliani stepped out, it was already May and Lazio had a lot of catching up to do. Did he take his campaign seriously? I can't say, because I wasn't involved, but according to QJ, he didn't.
Is he ten years older and had the time to really figure out a good strategy this year?
Certainly.
I'm sure his campaign will be far better than his 2000 campaign.
I do recall he did hold his own in the debates, apart from his "sign this" ploy. He was much more relaxed than Clinton. She sounded like a robot.
Anyway, the only thing I believe Lazio should drop is the unicameral legislature. For one thing, it'd never happen and secondly, no one cares about that. Let's find ways to reform the current bicameral legislature.
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written by Quickjustice , January 27, 2010
This is politics, so anything can happen. I observed character flaws in Rick Lazio when I worked in his campaign ten years ago, and they were serious.
Has he fixed those flaws, and matured to the extent that he can win this election? A campaign for governor of New York certainly will expose that.
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written by chancehaywood , January 27, 2010
I've really not understood the negative attitudes in regard to Lazio. I could understand it if there was a better candidate in the wings but there isn't. Chris Collins at this moment in time is not the better candidate with his foot-in-mouth issues. Rudy was never a serious possibility. Considering Lazio has been out public eye for almost a decade I'd say his campaign is coming along nicely.
Though I would really love to see better news releases.
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written by Jay Golub , January 27, 2010
from my impression after meeting with him a few times now and seeing him speak to Republican crowd is that he's ready. With the help of all of us, we can get him over the top and, hopefully, win back the State Senate to the GOP side...
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written by Frank Ammendolea , January 27, 2010
Jay, I hope you're right because this state needs to break the Democrat stranglehold on government. Admittedly, my cool reception to Lazio is based on his Senate campaign, as well as the fact that he was never really a standout Congressman when he served in D.C. He always struck me as your quintessential milquetoast, Long Island clubhouse pol. Perhaps my perception is wrong. Time will tell.
In any event, he appears to have a clear field for the Republican nomination, and if he runs a good campaign and excites his base, he could be successful. Paterson is a political corpse and Cuomo is a retreaded version of his father's old school liberalism. Haven't we all learned our lesson in regards to the Cuomos? Andrew will try to talk like a moderate and act like he is a law and order, outer borough conservative Democrat. Then if he is elected, he will lurch right back to the Left and govern like his dad.
I hope Lazio has the stomach to challenge Cuomo on his left wing positions, while also subtly reminding the electorate what an economic and crime ridden basket case New York State was when his daddy ran it into the ground.
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