State Republicans’ lickety-split pick of a candidate for Kirsten Gillibrand’s congressional seat has some insiders arguing the GOP is running “the same old tired playbook” in a contest that has highlighted tensions about how the decimated party rebuilds.
GOP county leaders in the 20th Congressional District chose Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco for the special election to replace Gillibrand, now New York’s junior senator.
“This is the same old thing Republicans in New York do, and it’s why we’re losing,” one insider argued, noting the pro-life Tedisco, of Schenectady, is running in a female-heavy district, won twice by a woman, and his primary residence is outside the district.
Others cited the fact that, according to reports, John Sweeney – who lost the 20th congressional seat to Gillibrand in 2006 amid domestic-violence allegations – was pushing for Tedisco behind the scenes.
“I don’t think [he] can avoid having John Sweeney hung around [his] neck,” predicted another insider.
Tedisco, describing himself as “pro-family,” denied Sweeney was working on his behalf, saying, “How do I disprove a negative?”
“Everybody’s not going to agree,” Tedisco said, adding he has a second home in the district.
Yesterday, Democrats picked wealthy Glens Falls businessman Scott Murphy to run. Some Democrats privately said his ability to self-fund gives him a shot.
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