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Conservative Party
GOP Primary #1: Berntsen vs. Townsend
Jun 1st - 6:10 pm
Former CIA officer Gary Berntsen, who was a late add to the race against US Sen. Chuck Schumer, just forced a GOP primary against the Conservative nominee, consultant Jay Townsend, setting up the first intra-party – and inter-party – battle of the GOP convention.
Berntsen received 43.16 percent of the weighted vote to Townsend’s 37.58. *Note: Jimmy Vielkind at CapConf has additional numbers: Jim Staudenraus .83 percent; George Maragos 17.96 percent.
Since neither of them received 50 percent of the vote, the party has now moved on to a second round of balloting. If either of them hits that mark now, he will become the official designee (which offers little more than bragging rights).
This second ballot also offers another opportunity for a third candidate, most likely Maragos, the Nassau County comptroller, to get 25 percent and get onto the ballot. But so far, I’m not hearing much in the way of support for him.
In fact, Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Mondello, who nominated Maragos and controls the largest share of the weighted convention vote, just threw his support to Berntsen.
Berntsen brought along his own cheering section, mostly made up of Tea Partiers from Long Island, from what I could tell. They stood on the steps outside the Sheraton earlier today and cheered for him.
Berntsen started out in the crowded GOP race in NY-1 to take on Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop – that field also includes state GOP Chairman Ed Cox’s son, Chris – but changed his mind to focus on Schumer after Townsend was already in the race, leading some to wonder whether Ed Cox had a hand in that.
Cox To Create Third Party Line?
Jun 1st - 2:01 pm
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any stranger here at the GOP, state Chairman Ed Cox goes and throws yet another wrench into the works.
At a meeting this afternoon of GOP county chairs, one leader (assumedly a Rick Lazio supporter) raised concerns about the fact that the Republicans are poised to nominate a host of candidates different than those already nominated by the state Conservative Party.
According to a source briefed on the meeting and another who attended it, Cox responded that the Republicans are thinking of creating an independent line all their own on which their candidates could run in November as an alternative to Row D.
The Conservatives have nominated Rick Lazio for governor (although he’s facing a primary challenge from Erie County Conservative Chairman Ralph Lorigo), Jay Townsend to challenge US Sen. Chuck Schumer and former Rep. Joe DioGuardi to challenge US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
If, in fact, the GOP goes this route, it will be more or less an act of war against the Conservative Party – particularly if there’s a gubernatorial primary and the winner isn’t Lazio.
That sets up a situation where Lazio, who has pledged to remain on the Conservative line through the general election, would be running against a fellow Republican – or maybe party-switching Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy – in the general election.
Remember: Third parties need to get at least 50,000 votes for their gubernatorial candidates in order to maintain ballot status.
Long: GOP And Conservatives ‘Owe’ DioGuardi
May 31st - 2:49 pm
The tension between the Republicans and Conservatives is not limited to the governor’s race, and there’s now a distinct possibility that the erstwhile allies could end up running different candidates in three statewide contests.
A lot of GOP county chairs have been scratching their heads about the Conservatives’ decision last Friday to give their line to little-known consultant Jay Townsend to run against Sen. Chuck Schumer and former Rep. Joe DioGuardi to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Most Republicans have been expecting both economist David Malpass and former Long Island Legislator Bruce Blakeman to receive sufficient support at this week’s convention to get onto the ballot, setting up a two-way primary.
DioGuardi wasn’t believed to have enough support to get on the GOP ballot, although he may have the inside track with the Independence Party. Now that he has landed the Conservative line, however, it could cause some county chairs to take a second look.
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Paladino’s Ask
May 31st - 12:44 pm
Over the weekend, Carl Paladino’s campaign sent out an e-mail blast asking New Yorkers to contribute to his long-shot gubernatorial bid, arguing that even the $10 million of his own money that he has pledged to spend won’t be enough to beat the Democratic nominee, AG Andrew Cuomo.
“I can’t do it alone,” Paladino wrote in the on-line missive, which a source connected to his campaign said was sent to one million voters.
“Democrat Andrew Cuomo has $20 Million dollars in special interest campaign contributions filling his war chest. Observers expect him to raise another $30 Million from the lobbyist, bankers, investment houses, Wall Street insiders, law firms, insurance companies and all those interested in maintaining the status quo in Albany.”
“While I have pledged to spend up to $10 Million of my own money, it will take far more if we are going to defeat the entrenched liberal special interests who have a stranglehold on our government.”
(Snip).
“Together you and I can rally those New Yorkers who are fed-up and ready for radical reform. My campaign must raise an additional $200,000 in the next two weeks to keep our campaign plan on schedule.”
The Paladino-Lorigo Connection
May 30th - 2:58 pm
Yet more proof of the collaboration between GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and newly minted Conservative gubernatorial hopeful (and Erie County Conservative Chairman) Ralph Lorigo is evident on this invite to a Memorial Day fundraiser in Elma tomorrow.
The event is being hosted by Paladino’s brother, Joseph, and the contact is Lorigo’s campaign treasurer, Raymon Caputo, who also happens to be the father of Michael Caputo, Carl Paladino’s campaign manager.
Carl Paladino skipped the Conservative Party convention in Manhattan last Friday at which Lorigo conspired with the Long Island chairs (supporters of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, also a no-show) to get himself and John Andrew Kay nominated to force a primary with Rick Lazio and his running mate, Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards.
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After Dust Settles, Lazio Gets Conservative Nod
May 28th - 9:15 pm
As expected, Republican gubernatorial contender Rick Lazio secured a spot on the ballot as the designated candidate for the state Conservative Party tonight in New York City, as reported by NY1′s Michael Scotto.
But, it’s not all good news for the former Long Island congressman.
Lazio only received 53.96 percent of the vote at the Conservative convention, where many delegates expressed displeasure over Chairman Mike Long’s decision to hold tonight’s get-together prior to the GOP convention next week in hopes of forcing the issue for Lazio, his preferred candidate.
Erie County Conservative Chairman Ralph Lorigo (pictured) also got onto the ballot after receiving about 36 percent of the vote. Lorigo, a Carl Paladino supporter, collaborated with Steve Levy supporters from Suffolk and Nassau counties to force Lazio into a potential primary fight for Row D.
“Never before has our party leader moved in such a deliberate manner to minimize the rights of candidate only wanting only an equal opportunity,” said Lorigo.
According to Conservative Party leaders, Lorigo has seven days to force a primary and 14 days to withdraw.
No GOP candidate for statewide office has won the nomination without Conservative since 1974.
For more details, check with CapConf’s Jimmy Vielkind, who was at the Conservative confab tonight.
Maragos’ First County Chair(s)
May 28th - 10:53 am
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, who just yesterday announced a challenge to Sen. Chuck Schumer, today revealed he has landed his first endorsement from a GOP county chair: Orange County’s Bill DeProspo.
“Mr. Maragos’ 35 years of private business experience and accomplishments as well as his educational credentials and electoral success as Nassau County Comptroller makes him the best qualified candidate to represent New York in the U.S. Senate,” said Bill DeProspo.
“George is committed to bringing good paying jobs to upstate New York, lowering taxes, and advancing fiscally responsible policies.”
UPDATE: The Watertown Times’ Jude Seymour informs me the Clinton County GOP endorsed Maragos last night.
Maragos is a late add to the race, which at one point was shaping up to be GOP challenger-less for Schumer.
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Levy, Paladino Will Go Stag To Conservative Convention
May 27th - 5:24 pm
So far, two of the gubernatorial candidates – the Democrat and one of the four Republicans – have announced their preferred running mates in advance of their respective nomination at major party conventions.
Former Rep. Rick Lazio made his selection of Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards known far in advance of both tomorrow’s Conservative confab and next week’s GOP get-together.
Conservative Chairman Mike Long has already signaled his support for the Lazio-Edwards ticket, and it’s expected that the duo will get the nod for Row D tomorrow (although, with the way things have been going of late, nothing’s done until it’s done).
AG Andrew Cuomo took the wraps off of his super-secret LG selection, Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy, just 24 hours before his scheduled convention nomination. Duffy was nominated that very day by his fellow Democrats, but didn’t show up until this morning – along with Cuomo himself – to give his acceptance speech.
That leaves Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Carl Paladino still without running mates. And, as it turns out, they will both be flying solo at tomorrow’s Conservative convention.
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Conservatives For Townsend (Updated)
May 24th - 2:36 pm
Jay Towsend, one of four (?) Republicans vying to challenge Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer this November, has landed the support of the Brooklyn and Bronx Conservative parties, his campaign announced today.
Brooklyn Conservative Chairman Jerry Kassar (who is, it should be noted, very close to state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long), called Townsend “extraordinarily well informed, deeply committed to conservative principles.”
UPDATE: Also endorsing Townsend today: Monroe Conservative Party Chairman Tom Cook, Orange County Conservative Chairman John DeLessio, Putnam County Conservative Chairman Jim Maxwell and Columbia County Conservative Chairman Matt Torrey.
The Conservatives are scheduled to hold their convention this Friday in Manhattan, setting their statewide slate in advance of the Republicans – largely in hopes of assisting Long’s preferred gubernatorial contender, Rick Lazio.
For some time, Schumer had no Republican challengers.
That was in spite of state GOP Chairman Ed Cox’s efforts to convince someone (namely David Malpass) in the crowded field of opponents to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to switch races and take on the senior senator despite his massive cash advantage, solid poll numbers and statewide name recognition.
Townsend was the first to announce his intention to take on Schumer. Next up was Gary Berntsen, a former CIA official who switched from the NY-1 congressional race to a statewid bid this past weekend.
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos delayed his announcement, but told me last week he would perhaps be announcing tomorrow or Wednesday. And Jim Staudenraus, a Shelter Island resident and former Assembly candidate, is also apparently in the running.
Edwards As Lazio’s LG
May 19th - 3:28 pm
A source close to Rick Lazio confirms an AP report that the GOP gubernatorial hopeful has tapped Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards to be his running mate.
The announcement will be made tomorrow morning in NYC.
Edwards and Lazio are scheduled to join me tomorrow on “Capital Tonight” for an interview that will air at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
I mentioned Edwards as a potential No. 2 for Lazio yesterday in a list that also included Orange County Executive Ed Diana, who announced he won’t be challenging Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney were also mentioned. (Brooks was actually floated as a potential No. 2 for AG Andrew Cuomo, but shot that down very quickly). A GOP insider told me recently that neither woman is particularly interested in leaving her local executive post for a chance to go statewide.
From the AP:
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