The papers today are reporting that Peter King has annouced he is seriously considering a run for the U.S Senate in 2010 for the seat currently held by Hillary Clinton. When asked how serious, King responded: "I'm very serious about it."
Gov. Patterson has not yet announced who he will appoint to replace Clinton, and likely won't until early next year. Clinton has declared she will not step down until confirmed as Secretary of State, which won't be until after Obama is sworn in and the Senate can hold confirmation hearings.
confirmation hearingsThe leading contenders seem to be Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and upstate Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. Caroline Kennedy is also being talked about, but does not seem a likely candidate.
King would be a very formidable GOP contender for the seat, having served 16 years in Congress and being an expert on homeland security issues which are a serious concern for most New Yorkers.
New YorkersAccording to the NY Post, King said:
"All my life I've been involved in New York issues and certainly since Sept. 11. I think I have as great a knowledge as anyone on homeland security and the threats to New York."
The biggest challenge in running for this seat is the tremendous amout of money required to run statewide in NY. King said to one MSNBC reporter:
$40 million."It would probably take at least $35 to $40 million."
He also said he has spoken to former mayor Rudy Giuliani and that Giuliani is unlikely to enter the Senate race, leaving the field pretty open for King. This could be an opportunity for NY Republicans to have a statewide candidate they can rally around and help rebuild the state party.

written by chancehaywood , December 10, 2008
I'm not sure what to make of his concern about the Kennedy apparatus. It almost comes off like he is afraid to take it on in his own backyard. If that is the case it would suit us all better if he didn't throw his name out there.
written by Jay Golub , December 10, 2008
I think Congressman King is, at first glance, a good option.
He's a D.C. figure who could get some things done in the Senate and he represents a constituency that is critical to winning in November against a Liberal Democrat, therefore proving he could win a statewide race.
The Party should give him a good look...
written by The Isle Magee , December 11, 2008
I was a big Peter King fan (I'm in his district), but he was one of the big Republican champions of all these bailouts.
What's more, he's pretty close to the Unions that are destroying New York (SEIU, CSEA, etc.).
So I think King is just more of the same, and when given a Democrat or a Democrat-lite, New Yorkers will go with the Democrat.
written by Paladin , December 11, 2008
King has been a real stalwart on homeland security, which is one of our most important issues, especially with Obama as president.
There are some issues that he is not great on. He comes from a real blue collar background and is very sympathetic of union workers.
However, he is still a republican and a very dedicated one. He will be an excellent party leader and has the ability to help rebuild the party from its moribund state.
written by Belle E. Aiken , December 11, 2008
I agree with Paladin. I've seen King speak, and he is a smart man who knows his stuff. National security is, in my view, the most important issue facing our nation today. We need more leaders like King, who is aware of the threats we face and not afraid to take a tough stance on terror. I like his positions on social issues as well.
Of course nobody's perfect, so I'm willing to forgive his support for the unions. It would certainly be nice if they reciprocated!
written by Alibaba , December 11, 2008
He is the only big name that we have now, unfortunately. He is a social conservative and I am sure that the RINOs and their pals will make a big issue of this. "Ooooooooh, we can't have that!"
written by Jay Golub , December 11, 2008
"Ooooooooh, we can't have that!"
Ya see, Alibaba, that is where you continue to misread what has been said regarding social conservatives and their place in the GOP. All i've ever said is that there should be NO LITMUS TEST on these issues - candidates in the GOP could and SHOULD represent both conservative and liberal social positions.
Other issues should be the determining factor in whether or not the Republican Party supports a candidate.
King is a solid GOP candidate - especially for NY. Of course, winning in NY - which he has done for more than decade and a half - makes most candidates swerve off the ideological path from time to time. King is no different in this regard.
Yet, he is an Irish kid who grew up in working class Sunnyside, Queens, his father was a NYC police officer and he served in the national guard for 6 years - demographic attributes that help him right out of the gate in a statewide race.
He's proven to be able to win races when being outspent - something that is sure to happen in the upcoming race to defend the Democrat's seat, whomever takes the role after Hillary.
He's also proven to be able to win where Republicans fail - as the Nassau County Republican machine collapsed he continued to be successful. Again, these are attributes needed for a NY State GOP on life-support.
Support for the Bailout is a concern? In my view, it shouldn't be as the bailout, or whatever they're calling it these days, was necessary and more will be necessary as time goes on. Besides, a LI Congressman who supports a bailout of Wall Street and the Banking industry is actually bringing home some real good "pork" - something NY Republican Congressman rarely can show on paper.
I like the idea of his candidacy. Let's see where it goes as he's said that he was going to run for Senate a few times over the years without following through...
written by Alibaba , December 11, 2008
My point was and is that the RINO branch of New York Republicans will object to his running because he has a 100% pro life voting record. I have to laugh because you may recall, that when Mark Green, a guy who even supports partial birth abortion, ran against Bloomberg, towards the end he ran a commercial alleging that Bloomberg had said to a pregnant worker "Kill it, kill it . . . whether you are pro choice or PRO LIFE this is unacceptable . . . " (I thought we were "anti choice zealots!" Even Green sort of got it. He was criticized for that ad, but I liked it! I believe that Bloomberg had to settle with the fired employee.)
written by Belle E. Aiken , December 12, 2008
"He's also proven to be able to win where Republicans fail - as the Nassau County Republican machine collapsed he continued to be successful."
Perhaps BECAUSE he is a social conservative? I've noticed they tend to survive when RINOs get trounced.
written by Jay Golub , December 12, 2008
"Perhaps BECAUSE he is a social conservative?"
Perhaps?? ahhh...no, Belle.
And if that was somehow the case, why are there so many social liberals elected in the same area?
In any event, I'd love to see you support any of that view with facts.
Also, how do you explain the Congressional losses that the GOP had in upstate NY this year? Those areas are significantly more socially conservative than Nassau County, LI. How did those social conservatives lose in social conservative territory, yet King won in social liberal land?
There's no correlation between the two. That is clear. King won because people like him as a candidate. King's accomplishments are numerous and none have to do with his view of the social issues of the day...
written by Alibaba , December 12, 2008
Jay, on the whole, most of the GOP losses were of the RINO kind. And that is a fact. As for upstate NY, it has trended Demo thanks to Pataki, who, by the way, was a social LIBERAL.
written by Jay Golub , December 12, 2008
"Jay, on the whole, most of the GOP losses were of the RINO kind."
What does that mean? you use the RINO phrase all the time, but what is the context in this point?
written by The Isle Magee , December 14, 2008
I wouldn't go so far as to call King a RINO. However, I WOULD call him a big-government social/ religious/ cultural conservative like Mike Huckabee.
Just as I wouldn't care too much for an abortion-on-demand Republican, nor do I care for the union-supporting, spendthrift, IRA terrorist-supporting ways of King (how we got the IRA's bagman in charge of Homeland security I'll never know).
If he's the best Republicans have to offer in New York, we're in dire straights.
And I fear that he just may be.
written by Alibaba , December 15, 2008
King has denounced Jerry Adams if that is what you mean. About time!
written by Cicero , May 29, 2009
Could Rep. King have a strong challanger/opponent the next time?
If he does not run for U.S. Senate and decides to run again for re-election to Congress, he may be challanged by current Nassau DA Kathleen Rice who is very popular and well-liked.
http://www.kingwatch.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_T._King
written by Alexandra R , May 29, 2009
Kathleen Rice is well regarded but it has been reported in the news she is definitely running again for Nassau County District Attorney. Although she may run for Congress or another elected office later on.
Democrat voters in the 3rd C.D. have the edge registration wise and GOPers are less strong there than a generation and more ago. Moreover, the Nassau County Republican Party's leadership is becoming impotent.
http://www.nypolitics.com/2009/05/19/tom-suozzi-to-announce-run-for-re-election/
Rep. Peter King is most likely going to be re-elected to Congress as he has the power of incumbency and is respected for his excellent knowledge of, and activity, on the congressional Homeland Security Committee. He would only be vulverable if he did something scandalous, criminal and distrustworthy in the style and example of former Rep. Vito J. Fossella.
written by Behold a Pale Horse , September 27, 2009
Peter King won't run after all. See http://www.nydailynews.com/new...oline.html
So does this mean Giuliani should run against Gillibrand?
written by Daniel Peterson , September 28, 2009
I'd like to see our statewide ticket diversify. After tomorrow's state chairman election, Ed Cox should reach out to find interest from KT McFarland and Randy Daniels. Richard Parsons may also be an interesting candidate. We have been hearing talks of George Pataki patiently waiting for who knows what.
After tomorrow, I would like to see the decision made as to who is opposing congressman Murphy. Will Tedisco challenge him again for next year, or will the party prefer someone like John Faso to run for the seat. If not, the congressional seat, will Faso choose State Controller or will Chris Callaghan be given another go at it.
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