Faso Reprtedly Gets Nod From Conservative Party Chairman In Governor's Race

The New York State Conservative Party has not picked a favorite in the governor's race yet, but the party's chairman Mike Long apparently has made up his mind. The Associated Press is reporting that Long has picked former State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso.

We've said it a lot before, but it bears repeating. No GOP candidate has won a statewide office in New York since 1974 without the backing of the Conervative Party.

On Monday, Faso picked up the endorsement of Rep. John Sweeney, the Republican congressman from New York's 20th District.

Sweeney has his own concerns though. He's facing Democrtat Kirsten Gillibrand this fall in the mostly rural district which runs 200 miles south to north from Poughkeepsie to Lake Placid.

For what it's worth, the online version of the Adirondack-area newspaper the Post-Star is running a flash poll that puts the Democrat more than 11 points ahead. There's no science to the poll, but political junkies like myself enjoy any kind of hint that something outside the expected might be happening in a political contest. It is mildly noteworthy that Sweeney's seat was mentioned by the Cook Political Report in its February list of congressional races that seem to be in play, or may head in that direction. Like that of Republican Sue Kelly in New York's 19th, the Cook report puts Sweeney's race in the category of those that are just starting to show some signs of being competitive.

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Speaking of unexpected, by now you must have heard that Gov. Pataki has had to have a second operation today at a Manhattan hospital to alleviate a blockage in his intestines. Pataki had been expected to stay only a couple of days in Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt after undergoing an appendectomy late last week, but was transferred to New York-Presbyterian this morning for the additional surgery.

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This next bit of news is not unexpected. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi officially announced that he will officially announce his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor this Saturday in Long Island.