New York is on the short list for being the hottest battleground for state and local races in 2008.  It’s too important for you not to be involved – any size contribution makes a difference.  Join the over 70,000 grassroots leaders across the country who have already given to the RSLC and donate now.  From the Buffalo News:

But Republicans throughout the state have not surrendered. Erie County Republican Chairman James P. Domagalski says the election of GOP businessman Chris Collins as Erie County executive last year bodes well for the right candidate with the right message.

“Our approach was to go out and find a businessman to run county government, and everybody said: ‘Nice idea, kid, but it’s not going to work,’ ” Domagalski said. “But we trusted our instincts, and it worked.”

Domagalski said he believes that Collins, who is scheduled to be showcased as a successful candidate from the business sector at this week’s convention, enjoys widespread popularity in Erie County. He suggested that Democratic Gov. David A. Paterson is enjoying similar early success because he recognizes that New Yorkers do not want higher taxes, and is cutting the budget.

“While I applaud his impetus to cut the budget, what we really need is what our county executive has suggested and not wait till there is more of a problem,” the chairman said, pointing to Collins’ criticism that Albany’s budget “cutting” is really only reducing the already approved rate of growth.

Former Assembly Majority Leader John J. Faso, agrees, and doesn’t mind saying “I told you so” after losing his Republican bid for governor against Spitzer in 2006. Attending the convention here this week, he said the Republican Party must present “genuine solutions to problems.” It has to appeal to voters’ economic concerns and reach better into the state’s immigrant population.

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