By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Republican US Senate candidate Ed Cox wrapped up a two-day visit to the Buffalo area Thursday. Cox, an attorney and son-in-law of the late Richard Nixon, is exploring a run for the Senate in 2006 against Democratic incumbent Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Cox is in the midst of a 12 county tour of upstate areas, meeting with leaders of the Republican and Conservative parties -- "building relationships," he says. In a WBFO News interview Thursday, Cox said he would better represent New York since he'd be part of the congressional majority.
"In Washington, conservative Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate," Cox said. "We (New York) are represented by two liberal Democrats in the Senate. That's not the way to produce results for New York. New York has always done better when we had bipartisan representation from a Democrat and Republican."
Though he has not held elective office, Cox said he has a thirty year record of public service. Among other things, he said he's advised three presidents and currently serves on the SUNY Board of Trustees. Cox said he expects party leaders will turn to him over the other Republican candidate interested in challenging Clinton, Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
"She's very good on criminal justice issues. But that's not the most important issue for a senator," Cox said. "Senators are in the corridors of power in Washington. I've been there, living in the White House and serving in the Reagan administration."
A recent poll from Quinnipiac University showed Senator Clinton with substantial leads over both Cox and Pirro. Cox said he expects to formally announce his candidacy by early October.