Molinaro Has Double The Backing Of Nearest GOP Rival In Governor's Race

Molinaro won support from the leaders of several large county Republican organizations when he told party officials as reported here by Daily Voice last week.

Over the last two days, Molinaro’s campaign has rolled out 16 endorsements from Republican county leaders, who collectively represent 35.5 percent of the weighted vote of the party’s state committee. State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) has 17 county endorsements representing 18.1 percent of the vote, according to Politico.

A third candidate, Joseph Holland, has not received any formal endorsements from Republican Party leaders in the race to defeat Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle.

DeFrancisco, who is deputy Senate majority leader,  took a few shots at Molinaro during a CapTon interview, reminding his fellow Republicans that he – not the county executive – has been making the rounds of various county committee gatherings for months now, answering questions on all manner of topics.

“The vote is in May, the end of May,” the senator said, according to this report in New York State of Politics. “Over the last four months, I’ve been all over the state, as have others. I have been to regional meetings where candidates are asked questions by committee people. We’ve had debates in Buffalo and other places, and, you know, Marc Molinaro hasn’t really done any of that.”

“And I think you have to vet somebody before you go forward and anoint that person as the candidate. So I’m available. I’ve always been available. And whatever happens happens, but I’m going to stay in it.”

DeFrancisco later added: “Many people don’t even know what his positions are on a lot of issues because he didn’t appear before a lot of these organizations. So I don’t know.” He also noted that Molinaro has “already gotten out once, so you just never know.”

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