ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino says Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino would make a “great governor” but says he will only win if he appeals to the party’s conservative base.
In an email to state Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox, Paladino said he’s dropping his efforts to recruit celebrity businessman Donald Trump. But he says Astorino won’t win unless he works to “cleanse” the GOP of officeholders who he says fail to adhere to conservative principles.
Paladino says Astorino must rally conservatives by denouncing Republican leaders who he says have capitulated to Democrats.
Paladino is a Buffalo businessman who lost to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2010. He says Astorino convinced him that calling for Trump to enter the race was hurting his campaign.
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