Former JK Opponent, Weld, Encouraged to Drop Out of NY Governor's Race

[demdiva]

Weld urged to drop out of N.Y. gov. race

ALBANY, N.Y. - The state Republican chairman said Monday that former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld should drop out of the race for the GOP nomination for governor of New York.

Stephen Minarik — who up to now has been Weld's biggest supporter in the race for governor — said Weld should instead throw his support to his Republican rival, former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso.

Minarik told The Associated Press that he had personally conveyed his feelings to Weld.

"Party leaders who he respects have made the call for party unity," Weld spokeswoman Andrea Tantaros said. "We're giving them the serious consideration they deserve."

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State Board of Elections spokesman Lee Daghlian said Weld has until the end of business on Thursday to decline the GOP convention's invitation to be on the September primary ballot. Failing that, the only way to get off the primary ballot is to move out of state, accept a nomination for a judgeship, or die.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060605/ap_on_el_gu/new_york_governor

[demdiva]

1. Thanks Rox! It's official! Weld has dropped out of the race

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2044879

Weld Drops Out of N.Y. Governor's Race
Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld to Drop Out of New York Governor's Race

By MICHAEL GORMLEY
The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. - Bill Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, dropped out of the New York governor's race Tuesday, saying it was time to look beyond his own aspirations for the good of the party.

The state GOP backed former Assembly Minority Leader John Faso as its candidate last week, meaning a potentially bruising and expensive September primary if Weld had stayed in the race.

"It's no secret I'm a believer in the utility of primaries in many contexts," Weld said Tuesday at a news conference at his Manhattan headquarters. "But I do think there's a time to look beyond your aspirations for the bigger picture. This is not a time for a contested primary."

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