By Hunter Walker 4/10/12 5:51pm

So Long Santorum

Ed Cox (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

With Santorum Gone, Ed Cox Says New York Will Be ‘The Most Important Non-Swing State’

Now that Rick Santorum has officially ended his presidential campaign, there will be even less than expected at stake in New York’s presidential primary April 24. New York Republican Party chairman Ed Cox responded to the news of Mr. Santorum’s departure in an interview with The Journal News’ Politics on the Hudson blog by saying New York will remain important to presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney even though it doesn’t occupy a contested spot on the electoral map.

“New York is going to be very important to his campaign, not because we are a swing state with respect to our electoral votes, but because this is where the financial center with the money is, this is the media center of the United States where the media is, and this is the center for many ethnic groups,” Mr. Cox said. “So, New York going forward–as I learned as chairman of the McCain campaign–is going to be the most important non-swing state here among the 50 states.” Read More

By David Freedlander 4/04/12 6:55am

Primary Colors

Rick Santorum Announces Run For Republican Presidential Nomination

The Return of the Native: Santorum Comes Home, But Do Pennsylvanians Still Pick Rick?

BUTLER, PA.—Western Pennsylvania, land of coal, sharp-rising hills, shuttered mines. It is a part of the country that Rick Santorum isn’t so much from; it is a part of the country that Rick Santorum is. It was at the Somerset County courthouse, an hour to the south and east of Pittsburgh, that Mr. Santorum announced that he would run for president. It was to western Pennsylvania that Mr. Santorum’s grandfather had come to escape fascist Italy, spending a lifetime toiling away in the mines—a story that Mr. Santorum has repeated at nearly every campaign stop since that morning on the courthouse steps two years ago.

In speeches, Mr. Santorum rhapsodizes about the area, calling it the perfect place to grow up, telling voters, “I don’t have Wall Street experience, but I have experience growing up in a small town in western Pennsylvania, growing up in a steel town.”

He learned everything, he says, “growing up with folks who worked in the mills and the mines in western Pennsylvania.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/16/12 9:27am

suggested reading

Morning Read: Bloomberg Travels The Globe; Manhattan Will Be Gambling-Free Zone

Mayor Bloomberg is visiting Singapore and Vietnam next week to “deliver a lecture on urban sustainability and deliver awards on behalf of his philanthropic foundation.” He is technically remaining in control of the city during his Asian trip.

Manhattan won’t get a casino if the Legislature’s plan to open seven commercial gambling facilities goes through this year.

Governor Andrew Cuomo on this week’s night of dealmaking and pre-dawn votes in The New York Times: “I failed. I failed. … “My legislative proposals were asking for the moon.”

The Post scores Governor Cuomo had a night of “legislative wins.” “I think legislators heard the message, and I think at the end of the day, the legislators did the right thing.” Read More

By David Freedlander 3/14/12 11:35am

2012

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney at a presidential debate in Arizona in February. (Photo: Getty)

As Grassroots GOPers Reject The Establishment, Romney Doubles-Down On Their Support

Republicans, the axiom goes, don’t so much fall in love as fall in line.  Thus Mitt Romney could run in 2008, finish a respectable second (or third, depending on how you score Mike Huckabee’s performance) and  be the inevitable nominee in 2012.

There has always been though a strain of the Republican base that has rejected this line of succession. This is the group that, ironically, backed Mr. Romney in 2008, when John McCain was crowned the inevitable candidate, or Steve Forbes in 1996.

Each time, the rebels have fought valiantly, but failed. This time around, they sound like they are wiling to continue spitting in the face of the party establishment for as long as Rick Santorum stays in the race. To wit, despite the endorsement of Governor Nikki Haley, Mitt Romney lost South Carolina to Newt Gingrich. Despite the endorsement of Tim Pawlenty, he lost to Rick Santorum in South Carolina. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/13/12 11:58pm

The Magnolia State

Rick Santorum (Photo: Getty)

Rick Santorum Wins Mississippi Primary

Rick Santorum continued to poke holes in Mitt Romney’s aura of inevitability by following up his victory in the Alabama primary with a win in the Mississippi primary tonight. Though Mr. Romney still has a large lead in the overall delegate count, a win tonight would have gone a long way toward cementing his status as the clear frontrunner. Mr. Santorum’s wins in more conservative states are prolonging the race for the Republican nomination and fueling the perception Mr. Romney has issues connecting with important elements of the Republican base. Despite his losses in the South, Mr. Romney is expected to win tonight’s caucuses in American Samoa and Hawaii, though those results won’t be official until much later due to the time difference.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/07/12 1:25pm

Rudy

Rudy Giuliani (Photo: Getty)

Is Rudy Giuliani Warming Up To Mitt Romney?

Former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani was a guest speaker at the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Irish Heritage Luncheon today and The Politicker asked him whether he’ll be making an endorsement in this year’s Republican race. While Mr. Giuliani’s endorsement is considered influential to GOP voters, last month, he told CBS News he was reluctant to back Mitt Romney because the current frontrunner “has changed his position on virtually everything.” But today, Mr. Giuliani said he could imagine himself endorsing any of the three main Republican candidates.

“I can see myself supporting any one of the Republican candidates, whether it’s Governor Romney, Rick Santorum, or it’s my friend, Newt Gingrich,” Mr. Giuliani said. “I think all three of them would be much better for this country than President Obama, who, I think, is a disaster for our economy.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/07/12 6:55am

siena's survey

Mitt Romney celebrating his victories last night. (Photo: Getty)

Poll: Romney Up 15 Over Santorum in New York

A Siena College Research Institute poll of registered voters released today showed Rick Santorum will have his work cut out for him when he and Mitt Romney go head to head in New York State’s Republican presidential primary on April 24th.

“Given their favorability ratings among Republicans, it’s not surprising that Romney has opened a wide lead in New York’s Republican presidential primary,” Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said in a statement. “He is supported by 38 percent of Republicans, with Santorum being supported by 23 percent, Gingrich 13 percent and Paul 11 percent.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/06/12 10:14pm

Campaign 2012

Seal of the State of Ohio. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

All Eyes On Ohio For Super Tuesday

With primaries occurring in ten states tonight, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have each enjoyed victories on this Super Tuesday, but the most crucial contest, Ohio, is still too close to call. So far, Mr. Santorum won in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Mr. Romney, as expected, emerged victorious in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Virginia, where Mr. Santorum and Mr. Gingrich did not qualify to get on the ballot. Mr. Gingrich, who hasn’t had a primary victory since South Carolina in January, won his home state of Georgia.

“As it looks right now we’re going to get at least a couple of gold medals and a whole passel full of silver medals,” Mr. Santorum said to supporters at his Ohio campaign headquarters. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/29/12 12:54am

Never Gonna Give You Up

Rick Santorum (Photo: Getty)

Rick Santorum’s Campaign Refusing To Admit Defeat In Michigan

Though all the major news outlets have projected a win for Mitt Romney in last night’s crucial Michigan primary, Rick Santorum’s campaign operatives are clearly unwilling to accept their candidate’s loss. According to CNN, Mr. Santorum called Mr. Romney to congratulate him before making a speech to supporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan last night, but as Mr. Santorum was on stage, his campaign manager, Mike Biundo posted a picture of the moment on his Facebook page and titled it “Rick Santorum’s Victory Night Michigan.” After the speech was over, Mr. Santorum’s top strategist, John Brabender, told reporters, “We may have won Michigan.” Read More