Posted on 10/08/2005 12:28:25 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WASHINGTON - A billionaire businessman who failed to beat Governor Pataki three times on the Independence Party line, Thomas Golisano, will switch his party affiliation to Republican today in an effort to gain major party support in another run for governor next year, a top New York State Republican official said yesterday.
The source, who asked not to be identified because of the delicacy of discussions surrounding next year's race, said that top state Republicans have warmed to Mr. Golisano out of concerns about a Democratic romp in the 2006 elections. In three straight gubernatorial runs, Mr. Golisano has launched withering attacks against Mr. Pataki.
"He wants to be on the Republican ticket," the source said. "He knows it holds more value being with the larger party, and the Independence Party already said it will back him. He's got name recognition, he owns successful businesses in an economically depressed part of the state, and the governor's a lame duck. What does he have to lose?"
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Does any Republican have a chance to beat Spitzer?
Oh Joy! Another RINO....
Just Guliani, and he's not running.
He spent 37 million on defeating the Republicans in the last election and he still couldn't make any headway. In that election his main political operative was a Democrat.
Voters don't like him. God doesn't like NYS.
Oh, well, it's not like conservatives have any good options in this situation. This is New York, after all.
The same state that sent James Buckley to the US Senate when I was in high school there. Lo, how the mighty hath fallen.
Appears he may be anything as long as he's elected.
"Does any Republican have a chance to beat Spitzer?"
Uphill, but this guy has as good a chance as any...
New York is so far gone that a Perot-like "RINO" is a great lifesaver compared with the also-rans and mods (Pirro) that are in the running.
Maybe he can stop the Democrat 'romp' as they say.
Where the heck is Guliani when you need him?!?!?
This guy might have a chance. I didn't vote for him in 2002 because running as an Independent I figured would be a sure recipe for disaster in Albany. He wouldn't get the support of either party.
But if he can schmooze the Repubs into some semblance of solid support that situation might change. He has excellent name-recognition in Rochester because of his huge company Paychex that employs thousands. And with his purchase of the Buffalo Sabres his name is now known all over upstate.
He may very well be a social liberal but hell, we need some tax relief, some union control, and some jobs up here more than anything. If he can run a campaign based on that, he's got a chance.
Everyone knows that Spitzer is another business-hating, union-toady. New Yorkers (outside the City) are more tired of that than you'd suspect.
I think Golisano has a good shot. But I fear that the Dems will try to be clever and run an VERY unexpected person. I'd vote for Golisano as a Republican.
Golisano can be very helpful.
Only Rudy could win as a Republican and he's not running. That said, the seat is LOST. Now since it is lost anyway, it would be great to have a guy with tons of money willing to run and carry our flag. He WON'T win BUT HE WON'T GET BLOWN OUT EITHER! That will keep us from another Pierre Renfrey style embarrassment and it will keep spitzer pinned down and unable to give a lot of money to other rats. This is how Golisano can be very helpful.
.....which he formed specifically for the purpose
Paychex is awesome stock - but this guy is wildly liberal - Im so frikin annoyed i could spit that this would be allowed - He holds no Repub values whatsoever
Is winning that important ?
And on top of that, Hillary (the co-dependent wife of a serial rapist and sink master) was inducted into the womyns hall of fame yesterday
..........if she only knew where Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood on abortion
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