Weld urged to drop out of N.Y. gov. race
ALBANY, N.Y. - The state Republican chairman said Monday that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld should drop out of the race for the GOP nomination for governor of New York.
Stephen Minarik — who up to now has been Weld's biggest supporter in the race for governor — said Weld should instead throw his support to his Republican rival, former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso.
Minarik told The Associated Press that he had personally conveyed his feelings to Weld.
"Party leaders who he respects have made the call for party unity," Weld spokeswoman Andrea Tantaros said. "We're giving them the serious consideration they deserve."
At the state GOP convention last week, Faso won a surprising 61 percent of the delegates' weighted vote and held Weld, a New York native, to 39 percent.
Minarik said Weld should withdraw "in the name of party unity."
Shorly afterward, former state GOP Chairman Alexander Treadwell said he was now backing Faso and also said Weld should quit the race.
If Weld does not heed the advice, the party faces a potentially bruising and expensive September primary in the battle to replace Republican Gov. George Pataki, who is not seeking a fourth, four-year term.
Polls have shown state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic front-runner for governor, far ahead of either Faso or Weld.
Faso spokeswoman Susan Del Percio said he is "appreciative of Chairman Minarik's encouragement and will continue to work hard to earn the support of all Republicans across the state, both leadership and grass roots alike."
State Board of Elections spokesman Lee Daghlian said Weld has until the end of business on Thursday to decline the GOP convention's invitation to be on the September primary ballot. Failing that, the only way to get off the primary ballot is to move out of state, accept a nomination for a judgeship, or die.