Republican US Senate designee Gary Berntsen just endorsed Chris Cox in the NY-1 congressional race – a contest in which Berntsen himself was competing until his last-minute pre-convention decision to switch tracks and challenge Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer instead.

P7130002

Berntsen said Cox “conducted himself as a decent on honorable man” during the short time that the two were opponents (this strikes me as a not-so-subtle swipe at Cox’s two remaining GOP primary opponents, Geroge Demos and Randy Altschuler, who have spent considerable time attacking both Cox and one another).

Berntsen called Cox “the Republican Party’s best candidate to face and defeat liberal Democratic incumbent Tim Bishop in this year’s critical mid-term elections,” adding:

“He has the shown the right abilities and articulated the right positions to represent the taxpayers of Suffolk County. I am asking that all Republicans join me in supporting Chris Cox for Congress.”

“…Iknow Chris Cox is committed to protecting the strength and security of our nation. Chris is willing to do what it takes to protect Americans citizens from global threats and from internal strife.”

“Chris will fight, as I will, to limit government waste, stop mortgaging our children’s futures, and focus the federal government on both a strong national defense and a robust economy.”

Berntsen said he and Cox worked together and became friends during the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain. Cox served as the executive director of the senator’s New York operation, while Bernsten served as the campaign’s veterans coordinator.

It’s worth noting that Ed Cox recently hired Berntsen’s advisor, David Polyansky, to be the state GOP’s new political director. Polyansky is going to continue advising Berntsen while serving in his new job.

Berntsend rode a wave of Tea Party support to land the GOP designation at the convention back in June. Jay Townsend, who has the Conservative Party’s nod, also received sufficient support to get on the ballot, so the two are facing off against each other in the Sept. 14 primary.

Chris Cox has been gathering steam among the Tea Partiers in Suffolk County, too.

He is also trying to mount an OTB challenge for the Conservative line to Altschuler, who landed Row D, and circulated petitions for a Taxpayer line – not to be confused with Carl Paladino’s Taxpayers line, on which Cox was initially expected to run, but apparently isn’t anymore.

Share|