As Marc Molinaro brings his campaign for governor to Western New York for the first time Wednesday, he's being greeted with criticism from a local leader. Former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, a Reform Party gubernatorial candidate, labeled Molinaro as "the right-wing Conservative-Republican candidate who's supported by the NRA."
Giambra made his comments during a Tuesday appearance on The Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter. The show is heard weeknights at eight on WBFO.
The Conservative Party in New York State, Giambra says, "has been the tail wagging the dog. And unfortunately, the Republican Party is a very wounded, very weak dog at this point."
That alignment, Giambra argues, has prompted many New Yorkers to leave the Republican Party. The results, he says, can be seen in state elections.
Giambra maintains his candidacy would have expanded the Republican base. His positions, including the legalization of marijuana, have not been enthusiastically received by party officials at the state level. He is now aligning himself with the Reform Party.
He suspects Molinaro will be "controlled" by Mike Long, the head of the New York State Conservative Party.
The Republican Party, Giambra says, "is so attached to the right wing Conservative Party that is incapable of moving forward with a new agenda."