Bob McCarthy: Jockeying in the starting gate
More political factoids for winning friends and influencing people:
• Funny, but the State Capitol teemed with politics last week. And the venerable old building’s most intriguing visitor may have been former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Not everyone agrees, but the mere fact that Giuliani would venture up the Hudson to talk about state policies only fuels growing speculation he will run for governor in 2010.
• County Executive Chris Collins showed up at the Capitol last week, too, meeting with Giuliani and other big-time pols. He even talked to WROW’s Fred Dicker on his daily radio show from the Capitol’s third floor—a must for any statewide aspirant.
Collins has yet to reach the halfway point of his tenure in the Rath County Office Building, but his appearance also sparked statewide speculation. The county executive used his best “pol-speak” to say he has no plans to make plans, but knows a successful Erie County executive always enters conversations about the statewide picture.
• Former Congressman Tom Reynolds, who was beginning to worry close friends by avoiding anything political for the past four months, re-emerged last week as a lobbyist for the giant Nixon Peabody law firm. It is seen by those who know him as a perfect fit for someone who rose to leadership positions in every legislative body in which he served.
His new post should also put to rest any thought among some Republicans — wishful or otherwise — that he assume the state GOP helm when current Chairman Joe Mondello’s term expires this fall.
• Don’t expect Reynolds to fade totally from the Republican scene, however.
“After a 35-year elective career, I’m pleased to say my opinion and advice is still regularly sought by people from the past, and hopefully people of tomorrow,” he said last week.
• Speaking of Collins and Reynolds, one knowledgeable observer said the county executive should seek that advice if he contemplates any new political moves.
“If he’s thinking anything like that, he ought to smoke the peace pipe with Tom,” the source said. “It’s not a pretty relationship.”
• Collins, meanwhile, has put the hard sell on Hardwick. That’s Kevin Hardwick, the Canisius College political science professor and radio host, whom he is encouraging to run against incumbent Democratic Legislator Michele Iannello. Hardwick has always aspired to serve in County Hall, but must weigh running against continuing his “Hardline with Hardwick” show on WBEN radio — a popular and responsible look at the local and state political scene.
It’s looming as a tough decision for the professor, who says he will figure it all out once Canisius classes are over in early May.
• Assemblyman Sam Hoyt will host a fundraiser for Andrew Cuomo at E. B. Green’s on May 8. Hoyt and Cuomo have long been allies, and that looms large should the attorney general run — as some predict — for governor next year.
And with yet another Siena College poll last week showing Gov. David Paterson’s numbers sliding (63 percent now view him unfavorably), anything can happen.
• Quote of the Week comes from State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, who said he would love to see Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano run for governor next year on the GOP ticket.
“He’s an interesting and successful business guy; he’s upstate, and he’s very impressive,” Maziarz said. “He would bring a whole different dynamic to what the race would be.
“That will get a call from Pataki,” he winced, referring to the former governor who was never on friendly terms with the Rochester billionaire.
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