I'll admit that I had my doubts about the ascent to office of New York State GOP Chairman Ed Cox.  A pleasant man, he seemed too soft-spoken, too mild, too polite, too much a gentleman for the bare-knuckle world of New York State politics.  After all, this is the arena in which you must tame wild beasts unknown elsewhere in the political world: Michael Long, Michael Bloomberg, Andy Stern and the SEIU, the public employee unions, Working Families Party, ACORN, Bart Haggerty (???).

Yet in his quiet, unassuming way, Ed Cox already has proven himself with several hard-fought successes.  The GOP victories in Nassau and Westchester Counties must be credited, in part, to Cox's hard-charging, tenacious, behind-the-scenes fundraising efforts.  Cox has good political instincts, works hard, and is willing to take risks for the GOP.  That's the definition of a leader.

Godspeed, Ed Cox.  And thanks for an unexpected and wonderful surprise: you're giving the New York GOP real leadership.