Talk about politics and strange bedfellows.

A reader forwarded a flyer for a Tea Party event tomorrow in Broome County at which GOP Sen. Tom Libous will appear with Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, who is trying to primary his way into a September gubernatorial primary with Rick Lazio and also plans to run in November on a Tea Party-inspired indpendent line.

The flyer describes the event, taking place at Brothers 2 Restaurant in Endwell, thusly:

“Yes, our next state Senator (running unopposed) and our promising, next Governor of New York will appear at the same venue. This is a heart-to-heart talk with fellow New Yorkers.”

“Tom can give Broome County, and all New Yorkers, a first-hand account about the struggles New York is having. Carl will express his plan on how he intends to help Tom transform the ways of New York’s government. Away from the political fray and media hype, Tom hopes for a historic gathering of fellow New Yorkers.”

“Carl’s goal is to contribute to that significant discussion. Tom and Carl are as concerned as you and your neighbors are about our great state of New York. Come meet Tom and Carl!”

For the record, Libous, who heads the SRCC, does indeed have an opponent: Democrat John Orzel.

Last I checked, the Senate Republicans were backing Lazio for governor, although they seemed open to the idea of competition prior to the convention at which the former congressman became the party’s official designee.

In fact, it was Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos’ reservations about state GOP Chairman Ed Cox’s effort to establish his own third party line that tanked the idea (much to the pleasure of state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long).

There has been some chatter about running all the GOP designees on Paladino’s Taxpayers’ line. So far, however, only two US Senate contenders – David Malpass (not a GOP designee) and Gary Berntsen – have signed up to do so.

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