Politics Now

   Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was scheduled to meet with State Republican Chairman Joe Mondello today, and by all accounts, the parley could have major consequences for the future of the embattled party.

   With Mondello's support for his three-year chairmanship still strong in his Nassau County home turf, it is nevertheless withering around the rest of New York. Ed Cox, the Manhattan attorney and son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, has been noting steady progress this week in his bid to take over for Mondello.

   In fact, the leaders of the Broome, Tioga, Tompkins and Ontario county Republican organizations hopped on the Cox bandwagon today. 

   But Mondello has so for not budged, and much speculation looms around the possibility that the mayor  -- seen as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010 -- will suggest that it might be time for a new party leader.

   Looming in the wilds of upstate, however, is Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. For months, he has quietly traveled the state to build what many onlookers see as solid support. Cox has gained the backing of about half the state's county chairman this week, but most are small counties.

   It appears that the Wojtaszek strategy remains to work under the radar and show deference to Mondello, but Cox continues to gain momentum. Meanwhile, Wojtaszek was nowhere to be seen today, and did not return calls to The Buffalo News. On the day that most observers believed Wojtaszek would officially launch his candidacy, his disappearing act only raised questions about the future of his candidacy.

   "I don't think it's over, even though the Cox people are rolling this thing out to make it look like a tidal wave," said one party observer. "But it's really only drips. And Henry wants to make a splash rather than these drips."

   The best way most see Wojtaszek making such an immediate splash, is if Mondello withdraws and throws his considerable downstate strength to his Niagara County counterpart.

   Cox, meanwhile, has made notable progress. Two supporters include Jack Casey, chairman of the Rensselaer County GOP and a Senate employee, and Debbie Preston, chairwoman of the Broome County Republican Committee, who has close ties to Sen. Tom Libous of Binghamton.  Such connections to the Senate and its still influential Republican members is viewed as significant.

   "That tells me the Senate may be inclined toward Henry," said another informed observer. "If Cox continues to grow, it could be uphill for Henry."

   So, today's meeting could hold significance for the future of the party. While Giuliani is probably not inclined to move toward Cox -- who headed Sen. John McCain's presidential effort in New York -- his opinion is thought to carry weight.

    For those who care about such things, the August doldrums are still offering some interesting politics watching.

--Robert J. McCarthy