Zeldin Meets Conservative Base At Fundraiser; Giuliani Sidelined By Rain

By Aaron Boyd | 1 Comment

East End conservatives rallied support for Republican candidate Lee Zeldin, running for New York's 1st Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Tim Bishop. Photos by Aaron Boyd

Noyac - Dreary overcast skies did not stop some 150 conservatives from across the South Fork from attending a benefit for Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Noyac.

Zeldin met with the Republican and Conservative Party elites at the
Sept. 27 fundraiser.

Stormy weather did however prevent the most anticipated guest from appearing, as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's plane was delayed en route from the presidential debate in Mississippi due to poor travel conditions.

While the campaign charged $250 per person (or $400 per couple), Giuliani's presence was to add a powerful fundraising component for Zeldin, offering photo-op's at $1,000 a snap with the former mayor. At an hour into the event, it was confirmed that Giuliani's plane had been grounded and he would not be attending. Representatives from the Zeldin campaign assured those in attendance that there would be a free rain-date event within the next few weeks.

A few disappointed attendees left when they heard that Giuliani would not be arriving, though the majority remained to hear addresses from conservative radio talk show host Andrew Wilkow and congressional hopeful Zeldin. The Zeldin campaign was able to raise approximately $50,000 on Saturday, according to campaign chairman Bill Fries, even without the added revenue from Giuliani's presence.

While the incumbent congressman Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) is a Southampton resident, and is a well-known incumbent to oppose, the Zeldin campaign has asked their conservative base to chip in with financial assistance and political support to bolster the effort.

Approximately 150 local Zeldin supporters braved Saturday's scattered showers for a chance to meet the candidate and former mayor Rudy Giuliani. Attendance at the lunch reception cost $250 per head.

Zeldin supporters were well aware of the uphill battle ahead of them on the march to election day, Nov. 4. The campaign's internal polls have been suggesting that more than 30 percent of voters in New York's 1st District are still undecided, according to Fries. "The numbers are starting to go our way," Zeldin asserted, "but [the polls] aren't that reliable."

Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine showed his support
for the Republican nominee for Congress.

Zeldin was introduced by conservative radio talk show
host Andrew Wilkow, broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio.

The Republican candidate has been struggling uphill throughout the election, striving to gain name recognition against the Bishop campaign's superior financing. Sources within the campaign contend that the congressional race will hinge on the voters in Smithtown and Brookhaven, where Zeldin will have to court traditionally conservative swing voters who have supported Congressman Bishop in the past.

Many local conservatives attending the event were concerned by Zeldin's youth and inexperience in the political arena, however, most were quick to assert that his military experience is an adequate substitute for time in Washington, DC. Support for Zeldin's candidacy generally revolved around support for the national Republican ticket.

Fries contended that the election can be won by getting the word out on the street with a network of volunteers campaigning for Zeldin continuously until the final polls close on Tuesday night, Nov. 4. The volunteers may work for free, however the Zeldin campaign will have to raise considerable funds to support their efforts if they hope to contend against the three-term incumbent.