ALBANY — Bombastic Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino seems to be warming to the idea of GOP Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino running for governor next year.
The outspoken Paladino — who recently expressed concerns about Astorino’s ties to the liberal wing of the party — now says he could be a good candidate.
Astorino, who handily won reelection this month in Democrat-heavy Westchester County, is the top choice of many Republicans.
“I hope Rob gets out there and sells himself to the rank and file all over the state,” said Paladino, who was trounced by Gov. Cuomo in 2010. “I can buy into that.
“He’s an up-and-comer, a bright star. Now he’s got to show he can do it and raise money and not just hang with Republican billionaires in New York City.”
Paladino is threatening to seek the state Conservative line if he is not satisfied with the Republican choice for governor.
He insists he will definitely run if Republicans don’t dump Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, who he accuses of being Republicans in name only.
But it may not be that simple. As a registered Republican, Paladino would need special permission from Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long to run.
Long praises Paladino but says his first priority is seeing if the Republicans and Conservatives can agree on a candidate. He says Astorino would have a good shot at getting the nod if he runs.
He and Astorino say they won’t get involved in a fight over Skelos and Kolb. “My first goal here is to defeat Andrew Cuomo,” Long said.
A Paladino run on the Conservative line would not only help Cuomo by splitting Republican votes but could give the Conservative Party the second ballot spot .
It could also affect the GOP effort to maintain control over the state Senate, insiders on both sides of the aisle say. “You engage in wackiness at the top of the ticket, you lose the Senate,” said one top Democrat. “It’s playing right into the Democratic hands of ‘You’re a bunch of Tea Party lunatics.’ “
Astorino said he plans to speak with Paladino. “If I chose to run for governor, I don’t know why Carl would try to stop me,” Astorino said. “We may have different styles, but we’re on the same page on a lot of the issues, and I value his opinion, by the way. “
