New York – When New York moved its presidential primary date from Feb. 5 to April 24, no political leader dared to suggest that a candidate would ever show up in the state.
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Too many other states had moved up their votes, making it easy for a Republican candidate to lock up an early nomination.
But in a presidential election year that has defied convention, New York Republican leaders and some of those vying for the nomination say New York could be relevant again.
For the first time since George W. Bush and John McCain battled in New York for the nomination 12 years ago – when each visited Syracuse – GOP presidential candidates are setting up organizations and preparing to launch statewide campaigns.
In the past two weeks, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have started lining up slates of delegates in New York, while their political operatives in the state consider where to open campaign offices, according to the campaigns and party officials.
“The candidates are getting their slates together, so they recognize the importance of New York,” said Michael Lawler, executive director of the Republican State Committee. “The Northeast certainly could play a big role in determining who the nominee is.”
Don’t think so…
i
Na, don’t think NY or any of the other states during that time will make a difference
It really depends if Romney has a +10 victory in Florida, Paul will stay in until the end, its Romney wins or this gets ugly and goes all the way to the convention.