NEW YORK (CNN) – This time, Rick Lazio isn't deferring to Rudy Giuliani.
The former Republican congressman from Long Island is expected Tuesday morning to formally announce that he's running for governor of New York. The announcement, scheduled to take place in Albany, New York, comes as former New York City mayor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani contemplates his own bid for the governor's office. Giuliani has said he will decide on a run later this year.
It was a different story in the 2000 campaign, when Lazio deferred to Giuliani in the race to take on then-First Lady Hillary Clinton for an open U.S. Senate seat in New York. Lazio held back as Giuliani declared his candidacy. When Giuliani dropped out of the race five months before Election Day, Lazio stepped in as his replacement, losing to Clinton in by 12 points.
Most recent polls of Republican voters in New York suggest Giuliani would trounce Lazio in a hypothetical GOP primary matchup. Those same surveys indicate Lazio and New York Gov. David Paterson are deadlocked in a hypothetical general election matchup.
From CNN Politics
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Lazio and New York Gov. David Paterson –The candidates that keep on giving. But its nothing you want or nothing you want to hear
Rudy is a weak, little troll! Just another GOP weasel!
Independent in NYC: your an idiot. Rudy was loved as mayor of NYC. He served his 2 terms and left. Stop trying to make it like the people didnt want him. There has never been a more successful mayor of NYC. He is an intelligent man and knows how to get things done. You sir are a moron.
Guiliani will have a hard time given that his opponent is supported by his children and former wives. Having said that, if Guliaini somehow wins the support of his family, he may have a chance this time based on name recognition alone. Many Repukes still don't know much about Lazio. Also, Guliani has the advantage of bringing in popular GOP figures such as Cheney, Bush and Rove.
As an upstate resident, the idea that Lazio has any more of a clue about our lives than Rudy is laughable. Both of them are jokes, especially since many of us remember Rudy's abortive campaign of 2000, his exit for health ( and moral) reasons, as well as Lazio's stumbling performance after he was asked to pinch-hit. The theory behind Lazio running was that women would vote for him based on his looks: this is the Dan Quayle theory of campaigning!
If this is the best the GOP can come up with, the Empire State will be Blue for a long, long time.
I think the firefighters will be waiting to bring Giuliani his defeat just like they waited for him in Florida during his campaign for president. They will never forget Giuliani failures to them in the aftermath of 9/11 and I don't blame them.
Guilani is a thug.
I am no Lazio fan, but Lazio will be the candidate. "Polls" also showed Giuliani was a "frontrunner" for the GOP Presidential nomination, before he actually ran in a primary. His pre-season poll standings show nothing more than the inability of polls to accurately measure some things. He is no more a serious contender for anything than is Sarah Palin: they both have a core of die-hard supporters, and Zero credibility among the other 85% of the electorate.
If Cuomo does not run, Lazio will be the next Governor.
Lazio or Giuliani or any Other Republican..........................................
Will Flunk --- Don't waste your time Guys --- You are not going to Win.
If you Guys have better sense, do something worth.
If the GOP wants the slimest person available to be their Gov, Guliiani is their man. Too many wives, too much cheating, who could ever trust a man like that. He gives me the creeps.
May the 'family values' candidate win.