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Local pols say Romney's loss hurts most

BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com

11:09 PM EST, January 3, 2008

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Long Island backers of Sen. Barack Obama were giddy with delight Thursday night, while backers of Hillary Rodham Clinton put their best spin on the New York senator's loss in her first presidential contest.

"One thing for sure, Hillary's aura of inevitability has clearly evaporated," said Suffolk Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), a former Clinton backer who now heads Obama's Long Island campaign.

Referring to Obama's sizable win in a largely white state, Cooper said, "It shows that America has gotten past its racial divide ... Barack does not want to be the president of the red states or the blue states, but the United States of America."

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, in Des Moines Thursday night, said that despite the outcome Clinton is still in "great shape. She has been beaten up more than anyone ... as the front-runner and now the question is whether the new front-runner will be able to stand the same kind of scrutiny."

Jay Jacobs, Nassau Democratic chairman and a Clinton backer also downplayed the outcome, saying Clinton always had a tough climb there and the political impact is minimal, maybe only two delegates. "Iowa is more a media event than a political event," he said. "Its more about how the media views it."

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) a supporter of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said Mike Huckabee's victory over Mitt Romney, who invested heavily in the seat, does major damage to the former Massachusetts governor. "Romney is the big loser," said King. "And it helps Huckabee, but it's still not clear that he is a national candidate."

King said that the results' impact could reduce the candidates. "Each candidate that drops out makes it better for Rudy," he said.

McCain backers said Romney's implosion also improves McCain's chances in New Hampshire. "Romney suffered a terrible defeat tonight ... but these results are great for McCain," said Assemb. Philip Boyle (R-East Islip) a McCain backer.

Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven Republican chairman, said Giuliani's national standings in polls and fundraising capacity make him the only Republican who can compete in the big states primaries. "Rudy has a fundraising operation that can maintain a national campaign" he said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said that Clinton has nothing to worry about, noting her husband never won Iowa, nor did Ronald Reagan or Bush.

"This is a marathon, not a sprint," said Levy, "and Hillary has the most Gatorade."