In Weld's Bid, G.O.P. Risks Losing Conservative Party Allies (NY Gov race)

[brooklynite]

It is the greatest threat to New York Republicans in the race for governor this year: The state Conservative Party is increasingly opposed to the Republicans' favored candidate, William F. Weld, and is willing to run a candidate of its own. That move that could split the right and hand the race to the Democrats, leaders in both parties say.

With the Conservatives preparing to meet in Albany for an annual conclave on Monday, their chairman, Michael Long, said that more party committeemen were moving away from Mr. Weld every day because of his support for abortion rights and gay rights and his past praise for gay marriage.

"It's a severe uphill battle for Weld to get our support, to be fair about it," Mr. Long said in an interview yesterday. "The Republicans may nominate Weld, but he has very little support in our party. We want a candidate with our values, not just someone who can win.

"If Republicans nominate Weld, we could see a very divided Republican-Conservative vote in November."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/nyregion/09conservatives.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1139461295-oV7Q1XXBLtYLvPaUv/i0SA
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I could see this coming back when Karl Rove came to town to speak to the Conservative Party rather than the Republicans...

[msongs]

1. return to conservative values like slavery /forced child labor? nt

[Atman]

2. LOL!! Bill Weld is the ONLY republican vote I've ever cast!

When he ran for (and won) the governorship of Massachusetts. In retrospect, I'd do it again. He was a very good governor. And his oponent, John Silber (President of Boston University) was an absolute raging nut-case.

[GrumpyGreg]

4. Silber was president of BU,not BC---and yes,he was nuts.

[Atman]

5. Thanks...I had a 50-50 shot without Googling!

I lost! LOL!

[GrumpyGreg]

7. No problem---all I could picture was the Jesuits' reaction to the

fact that someone thought John Silber was president of BC.I think Silber even gave Natalie Jacobsen a hard time which was a no-no in Boston.He was really somethin'.

Go Terriers !

Go Eagles !

[smirkymonkey]

15. Same here - I still have some shame about it, but I could not bring

myself to vote for the arrogantly (overweaningly?)insane John Silber. However, as far as Republicans go, he's one of the better ones. Have never voted Republican since, and probably never will.

[GrumpyGreg]

3. Just curious---if he wins would he be the first person who was

governor of two states?

[tritsofme]

8. Sam Houston

was governor of Tennessee and Texas.

[WCGreen]

6. The question is....

Why can't New York find a politician within it's own boundries.......

[Jim Lane]

9. Why no one from within New York?

Weld was born in New York and came back here several years ago. His ties to New York are much stronger than those of another recent statewide candidate I could name. :)

In any event, there are several Republicans besides Weld who are seeking the nomination. The good news is that the Conservative Party's threat to bolt and nominate its own candidate might pressure the Republicans into rejecting Weld, who could well be their strongest candidate.

[brooklynite]

10. Part of the problem...

is that Pataki's left the Party in such bad financial shape (focusin his fundraising on his own Presidential PAC) that the Republicans are desperately looking for someone who's self-financing.

[Atman]

11. I met Weld. He really is a "likeable" kinda guy.

But I guess they said that about Chimpy, too.

Also, he was with Bill "Book of Virtues (LOL!)" Bennett at the time, so it was probably kind of the same effect of a girl hanging out with fat, ugly girls to make he appear more attractive to the wolves at the bar.

Difference is, Weld really did seem to be a thoughtful, moderate politician. Which, of course, is why the republican power structure hates him. They're looking for sycophants, shills and toadies.

[trogdor]

12. Weld is a piece of work.

I heard on NPR yesterday that Weld is running as someone who "isn't an Albany insider." Well, DUH. He's the former governor of MASSACHUSETTS, forchrissakes! I nearly did a spit take and spewed coffee all over the windshield of my car when I heard that.

Shame I can't become a Republican for a day just to help nominate this loser.

[Tracer]

13. I guess that New Yorkers want a ...

... good natured but lazy, hard-drinkin', river-swimmin' Gov.

[Jim Lane]

14. Hey, who says we want him?

The polls have consistently shown Weld losing to the Democratic front-runner, Spitzer.

As far as most of us are concerned, you folks in Massachusetts can have him back. Yeah, I know, you don't want him, either.