Hints of GOP alliances in primary filings

With two months left until New York's presidential primary, changes in the rules of the game are taking hold.

Since President Barack Obama runs unopposed this year for the Democratic nomination, only Republican voters will go to the polls for the April 24 contest.

The state's 2008 GOP presidential primary was a "winner-take-all" contest. This year, the candidate who wins the most votes in any of the state's 29 congressional districts sends delegates from that district to this summer's national convention in Tampa, Fla., regardless of the total statewide vote.

"This is the first time in recent memory that we've done it so the presidential candidate wins or loses in a congressional district," said Anthony Casale, senior adviser to state Republican chairman Ed Cox. As Cox has put it before: "In effect, there will be a separate election in each congressional district."

Registered Republicans will vote for a presidential candidate -- currently Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney. This week, the candidates filed their delegates' names with the state election board. Those names won't appear on the ballots, as they once did, but the list gives a hint of how various party players have lined up.

Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) will be a Santorum delegate if the former Pennsylvania senator succeeds in the 1st Congressional District. So would Robert DiCarlo, a former Brooklyn state senator and GOP chairman and subsequent candidate for Brookhaven supervisor.

"I like him," Fitzpatrick said of Santorum. "He stands for something. He's firm in his positions, unwavering, and willing to stand his ground."

DiCarlo and former Queens state Sen. Serphin Maltese are co-directors of Santorum's New York effort. "No way I'd support Obama, and whoever the Republicans nominate would be worlds better, but something about Romney, every time he gets up to speak, I just can't get my arms around," DiCarlo said. "I can't believe he has any core beliefs. Santorum has started picking up and he's getting better."

Both Long Island GOP chairmen, John Jay LaValle of Suffolk and Joseph Mondello of Nassau, back Romney and would serve as convention delegates if he carries their home districts.

Other Romney designees include Babylon Town GOP chairman Anthony Pancella III, ex-Rep. Rick Lazio of Brightwaters, Assemb. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore), North Hempstead GOP activist Lee Tu and Nassau Off Track Betting chief Joseph Cairo. Some Gingrich delegates: Developer Lawrence Kadish in the 4th District and Kathryn Labate in the 2nd District, where her brother Steve is seeking to challenge Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills). In the 5th District, New York City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) is a Paul delegate.

Obama's district delegates also have been filed. On Long Island they include North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Suffolk Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider and former Suffolk Legis. Jon Cooper, of Lloyd Harbor, an early Obama backer in 2008. That year, the New York primary was held on Feb. 5, which was "Super Tuesday," and the winners were Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican John McCain.

After the primary, both parties will pick their "at large" delegates from New York. For the first time, said Casale, the Republicans will assign these to the candidates based on how each of them fares in the total statewide vote.