Liz has an an interesting post today that quotes an unnamed GOP consultant as saying that a Tedisco loss tomorrow in the 20th could lead to a "perfect storm" leading to something of a bloodbath in the NY GOP.
One GOP consultant who isn't working on Tedisco's camapign suggested this race could actually end up being a "perfect storm," leading to calls for the ouster of party leaders all the way up the food chain.
On the line are local leaders like Saratoga County's Jasper Nolan, an early champion of Tedisco and veteran chairman who has weathered several failed coup attempts; state Chairman Joe Mondello, who presided over the meeting at which the 10 county chairs picked Tedisco and was under fire even before the party's historic loss of the state Senate majority last year; RNC's Michael Steele, who was the first to suggest the 20th CD contest would be a bellweather of the national GOP's ability to make a comeback.
The rank and file of the NY GOP is not happy and it would seem they have every right to be upset. This was a race that they should by all rights be running away with. Some will blame the DC GOP for bigfooting the race with truly disastrous messaging and others will point the finger at the county chairs who picked Tedisco over other well liked Republicans who, you know, actually live in the district.
I think that no matter what happens tomorrow, there is going to be some bloodletting and I think Dean Skelos' interview on Fred Dicker's radio show this morning was an ominous sign for state GOP Chair Joe Mondello. When Dicker asked Skelos if Mondello should be replaced if Tedisco loses tomorrow, Skelos did something that surprised me. He didn't dismiss the question or defend a man he's rather closely allied with. He didn't object to the question or deny the possibility. He basically said that this was a decision for the county chairs. No defense of Mondello whatsoever. Nothing.
If I were Joe Mondello, I'd be getting my resume in order because it appears that the knives may indeed be out for him and the first cut, always the cruelest, may come from someone he always assumed had his back. |
