Over the last several weeks we have reached out to a number of our stakeholders including all our state - wide candidates, State Vice Chairs, a
number of County Chairs, and campaign staff.
But Molinaro has racked up the lion's
share of the county chairs and, with it, their committees» weighted votes ahead of the May convention, which will confer preferred designation status on a Republican candidate.
On the GOP side, Heaney announced Thursday he wouldn't seek the
backing of the county chairs, noting that his opponent already had them in his corner.
Then again, former state GOP Executive Director Ed Lurie, who was actively campaigning for Cox's job, just pulled back on that effort, citing a lack of interest on
behalf of the county chairs.
Of course Ed Cox has failed to come up with any credible statewide candidates, failed to work with Skelos on developing a GOP «brand» that means anything, failed to get
rid of the county chairs who are deadwood, and is a RINO himself on most social issues, so why not just keep him where he is?
It's always interesting when Cox interacts with the RNC, given that the party is bypassing the NY GOP and dealing directly with a
group of county chairs to open victory fund offices.
The source insists the goal of this is not, as was the clear impression made on
many of the county chairs briefed on this possibility back at the GOP convention, to siphon votes off from the Conservative Party.
But because there was a definite
process of county chairs choosing the Dem candidate, I don't know how anyone could think anyone was «hand picked.»
There's also a potential wildcard candidate in the mix: NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley, the
cousin of County Chair / Rep.
DeFrancisco has received the endorsements
of county chairs in recent weeks as well, including his colleagues in the Senate Republican conference.
It hasn't worked well in many, many decades,» Cuomo said, adding as examples, «the
dominance of the county chairs and the political parties and how hard it is to get on the ballot.»
The large
list of county chairs further emphasized the conservative grass - roots support that has followed Mr. Cruz since his announcement, with small - dollar fund - raisers powering his $ 10 million haul in the second quarter.
The State chair and a majority
of county chairs met with both last January and tried to convince Petro to look at the numbers and make a decision to WD to avoid a bloodbath primary.
A state GOP source confirmed that Chairman Ed Cox has indeed brought in a professional parliamentarian for the convention — potentially to help fend off a «no confidence» vote that a
number of county chairs are moving to bring against him.
It's possible, but
some of the county chairs are publicly skeptical.
«I'm told three
of our county chairs are already supporting him when in fact, they said they are not supporting anyone,» Idleman told The Sun following Ratigan's campaign rollout in Saranac Lake.
But Hoffman has so far declined to make a similar pledge, a move that has privately angered
some of the county chairs.
«I'm told three
of our county chairs are already supporting him when in fact, they said they are not supporting anyone,» Idleman said.