Rick Lazio’s Second Chance: A Run For NY Governor
The Republican congressman who lost to Hillary Clinton in 2000 stages a political comeback.
Given the recent surge in independent voter registration, particularly in the Northeast, Lazio may also generate some interest among the unaffiliated moderates. His campaign against Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate generated very little in the way of both interest and funding from the old money power brokers in the Hudson Valley. (This, in itself, is fairly unusual since they will typically throw money at anyone from either party who stands even a remote chance of winning.) Given the recent turmoil in the state legislature, credentials as a candidate who is outside of Albany machine politics should play well.
Lazio is unlikely to generate a lot of buzz and enthusiasm at the national level, being far more in the “RINO” mold and somewhat typical of New York Republicans in general. Still, this is precisely the type of person the GOP needs to promote in the Empire State. We just don’t elect Bible Belt social conservatives out in this neck of the woods.
Will the state party forgive Lazio’s failure to stop Hillary Clinton nine years ago? Unlike other “failed” attempts by candidates, it’s going to be hard to hold Lazio’s feet to the fire on that one. The entire party was positive that Rudy Giuliani would be running, and Rick was thrust onto the stage with only a few months to go when America’s mayor withdrew himself from consideration following bad news about his health and a controversial divorce dust-up.
Getting any Republican elected to the Senate at that time would have been an uphill battle, but the Democrats had brought in nothing short of their very own rock star. Hillary arrived in New York with a war chest in the tens of millions and an approval rating which mysteriously never dipped below 60 percent. Lazio mounted a very spirited campaign, criss-crossing the state, knocking on doors and wearing out the shoe leather required for a campaign with a financial gas tank running on fumes.
Even with the odds stacked against him that heavily, Rick still managed to capture 43 percent of the vote. Paterson’s star power isn’t in the same ballpark as the former first lady and his administration’s bungling of the state budget makes it unlikely that he’d even win a primary if a serious challenge were brought forward.
Second chances may be coming back into vogue, at least in the Northeast. Lazio should have little trouble grabbing the nomination if he thrusts himself out front this early. If it actually does turn into a race against the current governor, this bluest of blue states could find itself with not only the executive branch but the state senate back in Republican hands in November 2010.
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Jazz Shaw is a heretical, Northeastern former RINO and regular columnist at The Moderate Voice. He can be reached at jazzshaw@gmail.com.
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7 Comments
1. JIMV:I sent him cash to help in the Cause to keep Hillary out of office and watched him win the debate and lose the media spin…He would make a good governor.
Jul 8, 2009 - 8:13 am 2. Heidi:Hope he does well..
Jul 8, 2009 - 8:51 am 3. Bender:Why is it that those who need to go away forever simply refuse to go away??
Jul 8, 2009 - 2:55 pm 4. Patrick of Atlantis:I like Rick Lazio. He had the class and character to run against the Clinton regime. He will be an excellent governor.
Jul 8, 2009 - 5:34 pm 5. Steve Smith:P.S. I’ll bet Hillary regrets giving up her Senate seat.
“Perennial Candidate” eh? We had one of those in my home town in BC, Canada. Every city election he was there at the all candidates meeting; to sing a selection from Gilbert and Sullivan operas. No speeches, just singing. It was the only way he could get an audience.
Oh yes, we had another one who simply blew raspberries at the audience.
The last thing the GOP needs is a “Perennial Candidate”. They need a strong small “c” conservative person who can explain what is wrong with the Democrats and why he would be better than the incumbent.
Jul 8, 2009 - 9:41 pm 6. Robert:Millionaire Wall Street Lobbyist Rick Lazio for Governor? Great. That’s what we need. A guy who’s spent the last 9 years lobbying for Wall Street to set things aright in New York. Millionaire Wall Street Lobbyist Rick Lazio for Governor. Sheesh.
Jul 9, 2009 - 2:46 am 7. urbanleftbehind:Why not Steve Levy?
Jul 10, 2009 - 7:26 am