The three Republicans fighting for the right to take on Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand mixed it up at Union College’s Yulman Theater last night, but there was one thing on which they were all in accord: State GOP Chairman Ed Cox.

Asked if they thought Cox has done a good job leading the party since winning a battle for the post against then-Niagara County GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek last fall, the candidates responded thusly:

David Malpass: “No.”

Joe DioGuardi: “He didn’t do right by me at the convention. I had to go to the people to get my signatures. I’d say ‘no.’”

Bruce Blakeman: “No.”

This isn’t terribly surprising, with the exception of Blakeman, who is the party’s designee. Cox’s tenure has been marred by missteps – from his anemic fundraising to his failed efforts to get Rick Lazio out of the governor’s race and party-switching Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy in – the chairman has not won accolades among rank-and-file Republicans. (To be fair, however, they are a difficult bunch to please).

A Cox loyalist e-mailed last night in the chairman’s defense, noting all three candidates “actively” sought the chairman’s support and endorsement. Cox is supporting Blakeman as the official standard-bearer, but this Republican noted the former Nassau County legislator is close to Nassau County GOP Chairman (and Cox’s predecessor) Joe Mondello, who supported Wojtaszek in the state chairmanship fight.

“As far as Malpass and DioGuardi are concerned, it’s no surprise they’re both upset at Chairman Cox’s backing of Blakeman, though the mature reaction would entail the two of them understanding the position Cox is in, given that Blakeman is the party’s designee,” the Republican reasoned.

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