Gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Lee Zeldin (R,C–Shirley) was joined by supporters on March 27 to open his Hauppauge campaign headquarters. The office will serve as his Long Island base of operations as he challenges incumbent Kathy Hochul (D-Buffalo).
Recently Zeldin’s campaign released a poll showing a tie between him and Hochul for the governor’s mansion. The poll was released on March 14 and was conducted by McLaughlin and Associates. Since that poll, he has opened at least half a dozen campaign offices around the state, no doubt looking to build on his momentum. Most of the offices are being opened west of Nassau County due to Zeldin’s already high name-brand recognition on Long Island.
Such potential for a Republican in New York State has not been seen since Pataki and has invited numerous challengers. Republican challengers to the official Republican designee – Zeldin – have been mounting petition campaigns to get their candidates on the ballot. The Rob Astorino and Andrew Guiliani campaigns have reportedly been circulating nominating petitions across Long Island.
Further, these campaigns have found common cause with Robert Cornicelli in his long-shot congressional bid. Cornicelli, who has been involved in numerous failed and fraudulent campaigns, as reported by The Messenger, is challenging Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2) for congress. Most recently, Cornicelli took point on the failed William Mountzouros campaign against incumbent Legislator Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga). Numerous petitions were invalidated due to wholesale fraud. According to one affidavit, petition gathers told signors that they could sign for their spouses, in direct violation of campaign law. The result was the honorable Judge Richard Horowitz of the Suffolk Supreme Court ordering the removal of William Mountzouros from the primary ballot.
In authorized campaign literature by the Cornicelli campaign, he accuses Garbarino of being a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Then, since Zeldin endorsed Garbarino, he has become a RINO by affiliation in the eyes of Cornicelli’s supporters.
To some observers, it looks as though Cornicelli is willing to sink a gubernatorial campaign if that means getting enough political grapeshot to potentially win the Republican nomination for the Second Congressional District.
Despite this local turbulence, Zeldin’s campaign continues to nimbly traverse the state in the hope of unseating Hochul. Currently, Zeldin leads in all polls amongst those vying for the Republican nomination.
