Boehner's visit viewed as sign of momentum in 25th Congressional District campaign.
View full sizeHouse Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, right, listens to Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., left, respond to questions from reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Boehner is in line to become Speaker of the House if Republicans recapture the majority in November. Washington -- The top Republican in the House of Representatives is headed to Syracuse later this month to campaign for 25th District congressional candidate Ann Marie Buerkle.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, has agreed to visit Central New York on Saturday, Aug. 21, and attend a fundraiser for Buerkle. Details are still being worked out, according to Buerkle’s campaign.
Buerkle views the visit from a top GOP leader as a sign of momentum in her race against Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt. Buerkle released a poll last week that showed her trailing by 9 percentage points, compared to an earlier Maffei poll that showed him leading by 19 points.
“I am honored that Leader Boehner and his team recognize the growing potential our campaign has,” Buerkle said.
Boehner stopped short of promising any committee posts to Buerkle. In the 23rd District race last November, Boehner promised he would try to place Republican Dede Scozzafava on the House Armed Services Committee.
Boehner did offer an advance endorsement of Buerkle: “I expect that as a member of Congress she’ll bring her independence, practicality and common sense to Washington to fully represent the needs of Central and Western New York, not the special interests,” he said in a statement.
Contact Washington correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.