In December 2014, the Federal High Court had ruled that it was only the constitutionally
recognized state party leadership led by Ejike Oguebego that could organize the party primaries.
Paladino said he understood both the decisions blaming
the state party leadership — a regular target of his since 2010 when they initially endorsed Rick Lazio instead of him.
Zeldin was the preferred cadndiate of the local and
state party leadership, who believed he has the strongest chance of unseating Democratic incumbet Tim Bishop.
Interviews with more than half of Democratic chiefs in Iowa's 99 counties show
a state party leadership so far reluctant to coalesce behind Mrs. Clinton.