NY: GOP Delegates Reject William Weld and Back Faso Instead

[Frodo]

G.O.P. Delegates Reject Weld, Back Faso for Governor

By PATRICK HEALY
Published: June 1, 2006

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., June 1 — Former Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld suffered a stunning rebuke from his own Republican party this afternoon when he lost his bid to become the party's designee in the race for governor. Instead, delegates chose John Faso, a former upstate Assemblyman, by more than 3 to 2.

Mr. Weld had the tacit backing of Gov. George Pataki and other party leaders, who urged Mr. Weld to run and tried to secure the nomination for him to oppose Eliot Spitzer, the likely Democratic nominee.

In a roll-call vote of county Republican officials at the party's convention here today, Mr. Faso won 61.2 percent of the vote, significantly more than expected. Still, Mr. Weld's 38.8 percent was enough to qualify for a place on the Sept. 12 primary ballot.

Being the party designee is usually a nominal honor, but Republicans say it could be consequential this year. The Faso camp is certain that it will help their candidate attract more money, media attention, and endorsements, all of which have come easier to Mr. Weld so far.

More than anything, Mr. Faso and his advisers hope that their victory will lead Mr. Weld to drop out of the race in the name of party unity, rather than contest the Sept. 12 primary. Mr. Faso already has the nomination of the Conservative Party, and some Republicans believe that only a candidate with both the Republican and Conservative party lines can win enough votes in the November general election to have a chance Mr. Spitzer, who is now the state Attorney General.

Mr. Weld told reporters after the convention vote today that he would remain in the race. But Mr. Faso's victory still forces questions upon him in the days ahead: Does Mr. Weld risk becoming a spoiler, forcing Mr. Faso to spend time and money on a primary instead of challenging Mr. Spitzer? And can Mr. Weld, the party's early favorite, recover momentum now that he has been shown to be a distant second choice among grass-roots Republican delegates?