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State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said the GOP finally has a strong shot at defeating entrenched Westchester Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey — a day after The Post reported that she’s one of the New York congressional delegation’s double dippers.
Lowey, 75, was first elected in 1988, when Ronald Reagan was president, Mario Cuomo was governor and Ed Koch was mayor.
Cox said The Post’s story about Lowey’s double dipping — collecting a $174,000 congressional salary and a $10,000 state pension — gives challenger Joe Carvin more ammunition against her.
A well-liked fixture in Democratic circles, Lowey is facing her most serious challenge in years in multimillionaire businessman Carvin, a Rye Town supervisor who has proven he can win votes on Democratic turf.
Lowey is the wealthiest member of the New York congressional delegation, with $14.3 million in assets, and one of the richest members of Congress.
By comparison, Carvin has declined to accept the $17,000 salary for his Rye position.
“The double dipping will be damaging to her. Nita Lowey takes anything she can. She didn’t need the pension,” Cox said.
Expect the double-dipping issue to be featured in Carvin ads.
“We will certainly be highlighting her double dipping, but our main thrust remains job creation and debt reduction. Ms. Lowey has been in Congress 24 years, and we have $16 trillion in debt. If she is not held responsible after all that time, who will be?” asked Carvin spokesman Bill O’Riley.
Meanwhile, reapportionment has dramatically changed Lowey’s once mostly lower-Westchester district. The new 17th CD now includes all of Rockland as well as portions of more conservative northern Westchester — about 350,000 new voters, who account for half of the electorate.
“It’s a winnable seat for a good candidate, and Joe Carvin is an excellent candidate,” Cox said.
GOP officials note that Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s election in 2009 shows a Republican can win there.
Money should not be an issue for either candidate: Carvin has dedicated $1 million; Lowey could spend more.
Carvin is already on the air with TV ads. Lowey has told supporters she will unveil her first ad of the campaign tomorrow.
The Lowey campaign is confident she will win re-election to a 13th term but is taking the Carvin challenge seriously.
“Congresswoman Lowey never takes any election for granted, and she is working hard to connect with new voters and those she has previously represented,” said Lowey spokesman Matt Dennis.
“She is proud of her record, and she is running an aggressive campaign focused on job creation, helping small businesses expand and hire, higher-education affordability, protecting Medicare, and other issues that are critical to Westchester and Rockland counties.”
Lowey is still considered the favorite because Democrats retain an edge in voter enrollment in the new district.