Came across this in the times, didnt know if it was already diaried, so I went ahead. The story is about
GOP infighting over candidates for top campaigns next year. But it seems to focus a lot on NY GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik.
More Below the Break.
With Mr. Pataki lying low, the intraparty tensions have largely centered on the strategy of his handpicked and relatively untested state party chairman, Stephen J. Minarik III, a blustery conservative with a knack for bruising egos. While some party officials say they are energized by Mr. Minarik's opinionated style, others see worrisome shades of Howard Dean, the Democratic national chairman, in Mr. Minarik's remarks linking Democrats to terrorism and suggesting that some Republicans are B-list politicians.
First of all, whoa. I'm not from NY, but whatever you think of Howard Dean and his comments, he is nothing like Stephen Minarik. Dean has never compared Republicans to terrorists and has never put down certain candidates for office, not that I know of at least. I remember when he was running for chair and many sent out attack emails on Tim Roemer for his conservative views, Dean came to his defense and said, "I know what it feels like to be attacked by other Dems." Minarik just seems unhinged.
So there are three big NY races next year: Senate, Governor, and Attorney General. In the Senate race, Minarik has pissed off Nixon's son in law:
Mr. Minarik is championing Jeanine F. Pirro, the Westchester County district attorney, to challenge Mrs. Clinton. This has infuriated Mr. Cox, whose aides also believe Mr. Minarik is misleading Republicans by suggesting that the White House supports Ms. Pirro, too.
In the Governor's race, he has pissed off Sec of State Randy Daniels, who will like run if Pataki doesnt:
Mr. Daniels, who is preparing to run for governor if Mr. Pataki does not, said
he was still seething over his talk with Mr. Minarik. He said the chairman ruled out supporting Mr. Daniels's bid because he preferred to back a candidate who could finance his campaign from personal funds.
"I didn't mince my words in telling him I disagreed," Mr. Daniels said. "I told him to stay impartial and allow New Yorkers the chance to vote their choice. I'm not sure he's doing that."
Of course, we have some guy named Eliot Spitzer running for governor. I think he's ok. :). The GOP is scrambling for candidates. As far as those mentioned in the article: Tom Golisano(ran as an I in 02, who Spitzer crushes in a poll), Bill Weld(who probably wont run after it was shown Spitzer crushed him in a poll, by an Obama-Keyes like margin), Mike Bloomberg(whose declined to run), businessman Steve Schwarzman(whose also declined to run).
So how does the GOP chairman feel about this?? He says it's great!:
Mr. Minarik said that all of this activity should worry Democrats: "I would like to know how tough it's going to be for them to stop a Republican sweep in 2006?" Other veteran Republicans feel less sanguine.
Um, did I just read that right?? Did he just say it looks like there could be a GOP sweep in NY next year?? What planet is this man from? Admittedly things can chance rapidly in politics, but if anything, it is looking like a Demcoratic sweep in NY in 06.