New Jersey ‘09 = New York ‘10?
New Jersey and New York are similar neighbors. For one, both are homes to NFL venues. Of course, the Garden State hosts two teams, even if they’re equipped with out-of-state license plates, while the Empire State has one, as long as the Bills count as a pro squad. The resemblance goes beyond an affinity for football and/or cavernous stadiums: they’re also both states in which Republican presidential candidates don’t bother to campaign.
But New Jersey’s demonstrated willingness to vote counter to their reputation should inspire conservative hope in an adjacent state. Specifically, one winner from Election Day 2009 isn’t running until 2010. Rick Lazio has to feel optimistic about his chances to become New York’s next executive now that Chris Christie is the new New Jersey Governor. Can Lazio reproduce Christie’s success next November?
Based solely upon the state’s last major election, a Republican winning New York’s governorship in 2010 would be as shocking as Chuck Schumer switching parties or Chuck Rangel resigning with quiet dignity. This state was even more in the tank for Obama than its next-door buddy: the Hoper and Changer won New York’s electoral votes thanks to receiving 62 percent of the tally, compared to the meager 37 percent obtained by John McCain.
New Jersey looked practically moderate with its 57-42 Obama victory, although that was still a considerably higher percentage than the rest of the nation. Still, Christie’s triumph may provide the first indication that even the ramparts guarding Democratic strongholds are buckling.
Importantly, both are obviously renowned as immensely blue states. Perhaps not coincidentally, both are also similarly rotten when it comes to economic and personal freedoms. Consequently, liberal states’ residents may finally be tiring of liberal policies’ results. New Yorkers might find themselves in the same situation; all they need now is a genuine conservative alternative.
Will they get one? Most notably, Lazio was antagonistic toward gun rights while in Congress; Christie is likewise soft on the traditional conservative issue. Analysts can debate whether Christie’s stance cost him votes or actually helped him win in a liberal-heavy state. Either way, Lazio should only indulge in so many exceptions: he ought to generally act like an elephant and not a RINO.
Instead of running as a feckless moderate, Lazio should seize upon rightward momentum and campaign to reverse the state government’s eternally creeping domination. It’s more than simply being a principled candidate who actually takes stances: it’s pragmatic, too. He should wager that, as in other states, voters here would be sympathetic to a new course that involves less of their money being taken and used to buy whatever junk Albany wants.
Lazio would further have to prove he’s not like most other politicians who are changed by the capital. Again, he can use New Jersey’s winner as a model: Christie’s anti-corruption stance and reputation undoubtedly aided his efforts to topple a greasy weasel like Jon Corzine.
Fortuitously, opposing huge budgets while fighting smoky room shenanigans are tasks that complement each other like Guinness layered over Harp. Lazio just has to stand up and then hold his ground.
There’s at least one issue where New York’s GOP candidate is in the clear: the relatively svelte Lazio won’t have to deal with cheap, lame weight jokes. Still, Republicans can hope Andrew Cuomo brings on Corzine as a consultant. Creigh Deeds is looking for work, too.
Anthony Bialy is a freelance writer and “Red Eye” Conservative in Western New York. He also blogs at Smart Girl Nation. Follow Anthony on Twitter.
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