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03-20-2010, 05:51 PM
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March 20, 2010 4:24 PM 1 Comment
Conservatives Go With Lazio »
By Elizabeth Benjamin
After a lengthy and sometimes heated meeting in Brooklyn today, the state Conservative Party's executive committee voted 13-5 to endorse Rick Lazio for governor, rebuffing attempts by supporters of his two primary opponents to delay the vote.
"When push came to shove, the vote was overwhelmingly for Rick Lazio," said party Chairman Mike Long. "I didn't use the proxies. I didn't have to use them. Those present listened to all the arguments and debate."
"...It took a long time because I gave them all time to speak. Some spoke five or six times. Some of them got a little excited, but I just let it happen."
The Erie County chairman lobbied for the Conservative Party to hold off endorsing anyone in hopes of buying time for his hometown candidate, Carl Paladino, while the Suffolk County chairman did the same for his local contender, County Executive Steve Levy.
"It was kinda tough," Long admitted. "These are my friends, and I understand their passion. But I also understand, I knew, that this is the way the party has to go...I was getting tired of what I saw as the flirtation of the Republican Party playing around with other candidates. I wanted to put this thing to bed, and I did."
The three Suffolk County committee members voted to hold out for Levy, Long said. They were joined by a committe member from the Bronx (recall that Bronx GOP Chairman Jay Savino has endorsed Levy). Erie County cast a vote to wait for Paladino.
During the meeting one of the executive committee members suggested today's vote was a "gimmick" to help Lazio improve his lackluster fundraising, which has been cited by state GOP Chairman Ed Cox and others as one of the main reasons they rallied to Levy's side.
Long rejected that allegation, insisting he had called today's meeting simply because he was getting tired of the back-and-forth in the Republican Party - not at anyone's request.
Today's vote was a win for both Long and Lazio, since Levy and his supporters have been working very hard to woo Conservatives. It's also a gamble, since it's possible Levy will manage to get the 50-percent-plus-one he needs at the GOP state convention to get on the ballot and then perhaps defeat Lazio in the primary.
The Conservative Party's convention isn't until June, although Long has suggested he might move the date up to May in hopes of forcing the GOP's hand.
This gives Levy and Paladino plenty of time to lobby the executive committee members and try to woo them away from Lazio in advance of the weighted vote that will result in the formal nomination of a candidate.
But Long said he believes his members will remain loyal to Lazio, adding:
"This is the body that issues the Wilson Pakula. That membership is not going to change. This is where we're going to be. We're going to be behind Rick Lazio, and he's riding it all the way to November."
I asked Long if he had received assurances from Lazio that the former Long Island congressman will remain on Row D through the general election even if he loses the GOP primary in September.
"I endorse a candidate for November," Long replied.
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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/conservatives-go-with-lazio.html#ixzz0ikoWiolb
March 20, 2010 4:24 PM 1 Comment
Conservatives Go With Lazio »
By Elizabeth Benjamin
After a lengthy and sometimes heated meeting in Brooklyn today, the state Conservative Party's executive committee voted 13-5 to endorse Rick Lazio for governor, rebuffing attempts by supporters of his two primary opponents to delay the vote.
"When push came to shove, the vote was overwhelmingly for Rick Lazio," said party Chairman Mike Long. "I didn't use the proxies. I didn't have to use them. Those present listened to all the arguments and debate."
"...It took a long time because I gave them all time to speak. Some spoke five or six times. Some of them got a little excited, but I just let it happen."
The Erie County chairman lobbied for the Conservative Party to hold off endorsing anyone in hopes of buying time for his hometown candidate, Carl Paladino, while the Suffolk County chairman did the same for his local contender, County Executive Steve Levy.
"It was kinda tough," Long admitted. "These are my friends, and I understand their passion. But I also understand, I knew, that this is the way the party has to go...I was getting tired of what I saw as the flirtation of the Republican Party playing around with other candidates. I wanted to put this thing to bed, and I did."
The three Suffolk County committee members voted to hold out for Levy, Long said. They were joined by a committe member from the Bronx (recall that Bronx GOP Chairman Jay Savino has endorsed Levy). Erie County cast a vote to wait for Paladino.
During the meeting one of the executive committee members suggested today's vote was a "gimmick" to help Lazio improve his lackluster fundraising, which has been cited by state GOP Chairman Ed Cox and others as one of the main reasons they rallied to Levy's side.
Long rejected that allegation, insisting he had called today's meeting simply because he was getting tired of the back-and-forth in the Republican Party - not at anyone's request.
Today's vote was a win for both Long and Lazio, since Levy and his supporters have been working very hard to woo Conservatives. It's also a gamble, since it's possible Levy will manage to get the 50-percent-plus-one he needs at the GOP state convention to get on the ballot and then perhaps defeat Lazio in the primary.
The Conservative Party's convention isn't until June, although Long has suggested he might move the date up to May in hopes of forcing the GOP's hand.
This gives Levy and Paladino plenty of time to lobby the executive committee members and try to woo them away from Lazio in advance of the weighted vote that will result in the formal nomination of a candidate.
But Long said he believes his members will remain loyal to Lazio, adding:
"This is the body that issues the Wilson Pakula. That membership is not going to change. This is where we're going to be. We're going to be behind Rick Lazio, and he's riding it all the way to November."
I asked Long if he had received assurances from Lazio that the former Long Island congressman will remain on Row D through the general election even if he loses the GOP primary in September.
"I endorse a candidate for November," Long replied.
Share retweet 3 Buzz up!vote now
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/conservatives-go-with-lazio.html#ixzz0ikoWiolb