N.Y. GOP scrambling after Wilson says he won't run for governor
Harry Wilson
Langworthy  like many Republican leaders  was hoping  wealthy business turnaround expert Harry Wilson  would run against Cuomo. But The News reported late Sunday night that  Wilson  has decided not to get in the race because of family considerations.
Republicans believed  Wilson   who told people  he  was prepared to spend up to $10 million of  his  own money on the race  had the money and record to mount a credible challenge against Cuomo  who in July reported having $26 million in  his  campaign kitty.
“The candidate who was universally seen as our likely nominee if  he  got in the race stepping aside puts more pressure on the party to evaluate the talent who have already identified themselves as potential candidates ” Langworthy said. “But it's also incumbent on party leaders and others to look outside the declared candidates to see who gives us the best chance to win.”
Republicans believes  Wilson  would give Gov. Cuomo (pictured) the hardest run. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News)
While saying  Wilson 's decision not to run is not “the end of the world ” state Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long agrees with Langworthy that “going forward  its a whole new chapter.”
“Right now the chapter is blank ” Long said. “Clearly  Harry  was the front-runner if  he  decided to run. I think everyone thought that  he  would give Cuomo the best race.”
“But now there could be people out there who were thinking about running but because  Harry  was there  they didn't feel they wanted to take on that task ” Long added. “Hopefully in the next couple of weeks  some other people will step forward and the Conservative leaders and the Republican leaders will have the responsibility to select the right person for the job.”
Langworthy  like many Republican leaders  was hoping  [TGT]would run against Cuomo. But The News reported late Sunday night that  [TGT]has decided not to get in the race because of family considerations.
Republicans believed  Wilson   who told people  [TGT]  was prepared to spend up to $10 million of  [TGT]  own money on the race  had the money and record to mount a credible challenge against Cuomo  who in July reported having $26 million in  [TGT]  campaign kitty.
“The candidate who was universally seen as our likely nominee if  [TGT]  got in the race stepping aside puts more pressure on the party to evaluate the talent who have already identified themselves as potential candidates ” Langworthy said. “But it's also incumbent on party leaders and others to look outside the declared candidates to see who gives us the best chance to win.”
Republicans believes  [TGT]would give Gov. Cuomo (pictured) the hardest run. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News)
While saying  [TGT] 's decision not to run is not “the end of the world ” state Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long agrees with Langworthy that “going forward  its a whole new chapter.”
“Right now the chapter is blank ” Long said. “Clearly  Harry  was the front-runner if  he  decided to run. I think everyone thought that  he  would give Cuomo the best race.”
“But now there could be people out there who were thinking about running but because  Harry  was there  they didn't feel they wanted to take on that task ” Long added. “Hopefully in the next couple of weeks  some other people will step forward and the Conservative leaders and the Republican leaders will have the responsibility to select the right person for the job.”