Karl Rove was at Tarrytown's Westchester Marriott yesterday to rile up support for the Republican cause and lend a hand to the Westchester GOP.
Rove stopped by as part of his tour to promote his new book, Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight. The event also served as a fundraiser for the Westchester Republican Party and a rallying point in the run up to the November 2, 2010 legislative and gubernatorial election.
"I was delighted to be asked by Chairman (Ed) Cox to come up here and do this, there are some really great people here," Rove told the Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow Patch.
While Rove's primary focus in Westchester is the promotion of his new book, he was also aware that Westchester has seen a conservative swing in county elections, and feels a genuine shift in the region.
"There is a lot of enthusiasm and energy here, especially after the special election and last fall's election," Rove said. "This year I am feeling even more upbeat."
It's a message that the top leaders of the state GOP all expressed at last night's event.
"This is a great event for Karl Rove to come here. He's a master political mind, he knows how to get things done," said Ed Cox, Chairman of the New York State Republican Party. "People here know how important he was to George W. Bush's winning the presidency twice; behind every great political leader is a great political adviser."
Behind the scenes, Republicans have big plans to take huge swaths of New York's national and state government positions this year.
"This is going to be one of the best year's we've ever had, probably the best in 50 years," Cox said. "I think we are going to take the House of Representatives, we have a good shot at the US Senate, we have a good shot at the governorship and we certainly will take the State Senate."
This year, the voters will elect candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, all 62 seats in the State Senate, all seats in the State Assembly, all 29 seats in the US House of Representatives and both seats in the US Senate.
Tarrytown resident and Deputy County Executive, Kevin Plunkett, also sees the GOP attracting more people this year as a result of dissatisfaction with taxes and the economy.
"I think there is a feeling that the GOP delivers on the economic issues, which I think are the most important issues people are facing," he said. "I think the core issue of economics is going to resonate and voters will be very receptive to that kind of a message."
Nick Bianco, a registered conservative who will be running for Assemblyman in the 99th District, said he thought the trend would go towards Republicans, despite not being a member of the party.
"The truth is that is the party labels are part of the problem... someone needs to go up there (to Albany) and stir up the pot," Bianco said. "Given that, I like the Republicans chances; they are on the wavelength of no taxes increases."
Still others were just excited to meet Karl Rove, to hear about his time in Washington and learn from a political mastermind.
Larry Cassidy, Court Clerk for Sleepy Hollow and the Vice Chairman of the Yorktown Republican Committee, said he admired Rove and his ability to stand up to criticism and carry on the conservative cause.
"Karl Rove is the man," he said. "The man is honest and smart, and he does what needs to be done. He's a wonderful guy and for him to give us this opportunity is just fantastic. I love it."
