Palin endorsement expected to attract national donors to Syracuse-area race.
Ann Marie Buerkle stands in Clinton Square, not far from the James Hanley Federal Building in downtown Syracuse, where she held a news conference March 19 to criticize Rep. Dan Maffei for his vote in favor of health care reform. Buerkle has the Republican and Conservative endorsements.Palin's endorsement, sent to her national followers on Facebook and Twitter, could provide a sorely-needed boost in campaign contributions for Buerkle.
Buerkle, a Syracuse lawyer and former member of the Syracuse Common Coucil, had about $100,000 in her campaign account at the end of the first quarter, compared to $1.4 million for Maffei, D-DeWitt.
Buerkle said today she asked Palin for her endorsement, and was pleased when the former vice presidential candidate called her at about noon.
"She congratulated for me for running and said if there was anything she could do to support the campaign, she would be more than willing to do that,” Buerkle said.
Palin, in her Facebook note, made reference to her visit to Seneca Falls and Auburn last year. Buerkle is a native of Auburn.
"When I visited Central New York last year with my daughter, Willow, I remember telling her that there must be something in the water in this region of the country to produce so many strong, independent, historic women leaders," Palin wrote.
She added, "The women’s movement in America has its roots in Seneca Falls, New York, and Ann Marie is among today’s strong women leaders."
Buerkle was among three women Palin endorsed today. The others are running for governor of Georgia and for a House seat in Tennessee.
Contact Post-Standard Washington correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.