CLEVELAND, OHIO - The next race for Governor of New York is still two years away.
But already, Buffalo's Carl Paladino is talking about running for the job he ran for in 2010.
“I'm strongly considering it,” Paladino told Bob Lonsberry of NewsRadio WHAM 1180 in Rochester, during an interview at the Republican national Convention.
Asked by Lonsberry when he might decide, Paladino replied, “In the next year. Obviously toward the end of next year you make those decisions, but I'd love to do it.”
If Paladino is considering running in 2018, it already appears to be a potentially crowded Republican field.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has expressed interest in running for governor, and was observed working state republican leaders during a cocktail party at the convention
"I know probably just about everybody in the room but I really want them to know me,” Molionaro told the Gannett Albany Bureau. “I want them to know I can provide leadership and most importantly that I really care deeply about making a difference for the people we serve.”
Meanwhile, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who lost to Governor Cuomo two years ago, was at the same cocktail party, making the same pitch.
"Everything I talked about in 2014 is coming to light,” Astorino told Gannett. “Governor Cuomo has made it worse with his policies, and the corruption is never ending, so it's something that I'm going to leave the door open to and we'll see where the world is at in 2018."
As for what kind of chance any republican would stand of defeating Cuomo, a powerful, still moderately popular incumbent, with a decided enrollment advantage and $20 million in his campaign war chest, Republican political analyst Carl Calabrese of Buffalo said, "Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? Less likely."
Calabrese told WGRZ-TV that for a republican to be elected Governor of New York it would take “a very low turnout in New York City, and a higher than usual turnout in the suburbs of New York City and the rest of upstate.”
Calabrese noted the possibilities are reflected in recent polls involving the major party candidates for President, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“If you take the suburbs around New York City and all the other counties in New York State, Trump is up by 12 points. But when you factor in the five boroughs of New York City, that 12 point lead becomes a 12 point deficit,” said Calabrese. “It's a 24 point swing…which gives you an example of how powerful of a driving force New York City is in politics in this state."