Top GOP figure stumps for Lee

   One of the top Republicans in the House of Representatives campaigned in Buffalo for GOP congressional hopeful Chris Lee on Wednesday.

   Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, spoke at a Buffalo Club gathering on Lee's behalf Wednesday morning.

    Cole, successor to retiring Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-Clarence, as coordinator of the House Republican campaign, has a tough job ahead of him. Many analysts say the GOP stands to lose even more members this year after giving up its majority in 2006. And Lee's effort to preserve the Reynolds seat for the Republican Party is expected to prove a heavy lift too.

   But those who heard the Oklahoman speak on Wednesday say he is optimistic. And the fact that such a high-ranking member of the GOP minority came to Buffalo for Lee (in conjunction with a Rochester appearance for Rep. Randhy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport), says the Lee race is very much on the Republican radar screen.

   Republicans in the know say they also expect Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, House minority leader, to campaign here for Lee on Aug. 18.

  -- Robert J. McCarthy