Fielding Statewide Candidates for Senate & Governor

Here's a brief update of the statewide political news from yesterday that we didn't get a chance to really cover. Races are heating up so you better buckle your seat belt for some bumpy political roads ahead.

It looks like lobbyist Susan Molinari won't be running for US Senate after all. Neither will Congressman Peter King. Molinari conveniently cited family reasons, as did King. But in King's defense he does have a pretty good job. What Republican would honestly give up a key post on the Homeland Security Committee for a chance to meet Gillibrand/Ford in round 2? And Lazio made it crystal clear that he just isn't interested in US Senate race either. Love him or hate him, Lazio's response to former Senator Alfonse D'Amato's appeal to switch races yesterday was simply funny to read. Lazio basically gave Al an upper-cut to the chin with the statement below, even though according to the New York Post it looks like Ed Cox favors Chris Collins for Governor. Here is Team Lazio's response to D'Amato,

Today's story only proves how nervous Andrew Cuomo is about Rick Lazio. His camp knows that Rick Lazio represents something new and fresh while Andrew Cuomo is part of the same old Albany gang that has failed us. To be clear, Rick Lazio is running for Governor, and under no circumstances will he switch to run for Senate. End of story.

I would believe him, except his press aide didn't put an exclamation point at the end of the statement!!! But really, it does now looks like the winner of the Lazio/Collins match-up will face the winner of the Paterson/Cuomo/Levy brawl.

And for the record, we here at What's Up NY-23 don't believe that the Levy criticism, that he is a "stalking horse" for Cuomo, is fair or warranted at this early juncture of the race. Everyone is entitled to run for public office. Whether Steve Levy's candidacy is or is not really a "stalking horse" for another candidate is a debatable point, yes. But in the end it is really Levy's choice. Besides you can never tell what might happen in those three-way races. Stranger things have happened -- remember the history of NY-23! With that said, I conclude that this is truly What's Up in NY-23. It's what I live for -- it really is New York politics at its best.