NEW YORK — New York Republicans gathered Tuesday for a three-day convention marked by uncertainty over which candidate — or candidates — would emerge to compete with Democrat Andrew Cuomo in the governor’s race. In a political world where conventions have become little more than theater, the state GOP finds itself in the middle of a reality show. Delegates were...
NEW YORK — New York Republicans gathered Tuesday for a three-day convention marked by uncertainty over which candidate — or candidates — would emerge to compete with Democrat Andrew Cuomo in the governor’s race.
In a political world where conventions have become little more than theater, the state GOP finds itself in the middle of a reality show. Delegates were expected to designate candidates for six statewide offices, including attorney general, lieutenant governor, and two U.S. Senate seats. Their first vote, for state comptroller, went unanimously to former hedge fund manager Harry Wilson.
But most of the convention drama centered on the bitterly divided governor’s contest, with the pivotal vote set for Wednesday morning.
The contest pitted former Rep. Rick Lazio against Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, Manhattan real estate executive Myers Mermel, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who jumped from the Democratic Party to run for governor as a Republican. Delegates will vote Wednesday whether to designate a preferred candidate of the four, but could also cast a second vote allowing more than one candidate to run in the September primary.
Levy has the backing of state Republican Chairman Ed Cox, which has embittered many activists who believe the party chairman should not be taking sides in a contested race. Cox addressed the delegates Tuesday and received little more than polite applause as he suggested a divisive convention would ultimately be good for the party.
“The out-of-power party usually has a very lively convention and useful primaries which energize the grass roots and bring attention to the candidates and their positions for voters hungry for change,” Cox said.
Lazio appeared to have lined up the most support going into Wednesday’s vote and was hoping to show enough strength on the first ballot to stave off a second vote allowing a primary. His supporters were doing their best to bring their delegates in line, toting signs outside the convention proclaiming “No RINOS,” referring to Levy as a “Republican in name only.”
Lazio held a press conference to distance himself from what called the “intrigue and all the game playing” that was going into the governor’s nomination. “Have you ever known a candidate who wanted a primary? We are focused on the general election,” Lazio said. He said he was confident he would emerge the winner and focused mostly on criticizing Cuomo.
Lazio’s position was further bolstered by the Conservative Party’s endorsement last week, while Levy lost the Independence Party’s endorsement to Cuomo. Levy also saw some of his delegates peeled away by Mermel, who entered the race just a week ago.
But Levy insists he has enough support among delegates to force a primary and said he was eager to do so. “A primary is actually a very good thing,” Levy said. “You get more name recognition, more gravitas and more of an equal footing with the other candidates through the primary process than you could ever dream of.”
To pull off an upset, Levy said he planned to work through the night. “It’s all behind the scenes,” he said.
Complicating matters for Levy is his recent party switch. He would have to get the support of over half the delegates on the second vote to compete in a GOP primary, while the other candidates would only need 25 percent.
For his part, Paladino has limited delegate support but has said he would spend $10 million of his own money to get thousands of Republicans to sign petitions to put him on the ballot if necessary. He was also considering whether to campaign on a new party line representing the sentiments of tea party conservatives.
“Lazio and Levy have spent the last few months meeting with county chairs and in some cases delegates, but for the most part they have been out of touch with the people. I’ve been talking to people, and you know what I see? They don’t want any part of the Lazios and the Levys and the double-talkers,” Paladino said.
Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll said a primary was almost inevitable, “whether a two-way or a three-way.” “While party insiders, Democrats and Republicans, generally say primaries are bad, I think this is the case where, for the Republicans, a primary may actually be helpful to them,” Greenberg said.
Meanwhile, the Democrats were almost gleeful. “The Republicans are completely enmeshed in Nixonian politics, strategy, tactics and practice,” said Charlie King, executive director of the state Democratic Party. He held an unannounced press conference in the lobby, among the Republican delegates.
King was referring to Cox, who is President Richard Nixon’s son-in-law, and his son, 30-year-old Christopher Nixon Cox, who is running against four-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop in eastern Long Island.