OF ALL THE POLS TO ATTEMPT A COMEBACK…. About a year ago, disgraced former Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) started taking steps to suggest he was interested in a comeback. It was a little hard to believe.
After all, we learned in 2008 that the conservative Republican lawmaker had a secret second family, including a secret love child, separate from his wife and kids in New York. This came to light after a DUI charge in Virginia that led to some jail time for Fossella. It was a good story for a melodrama, but not exactly a recipe for electoral success.
And yet, one year after his arrest, the Staten Island Republican expressed an interest in getting back into the political game. A year after that, he’s apparently on his way.
In a move sure to raise political eyebrows, the executive committee of the Staten Island Republican Party bypassed two other candidates to overwhelmingly nominate Fossella for his old congressional seat.
He would challenge the Democratic incumbent, Michael McMahon, in November.
Fossella was not at Wednesday night’s meeting, but his name was put up by party Chairman John Friscia, a source told the Daily News.
“There was no explanation. Everybody walked out with their mouths [hanging] open,” said the insider.
Now, it’s not a done deal — Fossella hasn’t publicly declared his candidacy, and the full committee of the Staten Island Republican Party won’t vote until next week.
But it’s nevertheless fascinating to see what’s possible in GOP politics in 2010.
