Wednesday, February 12, 2014 – NYC
By Mike Leventhal APB Staff Writer
In front of more than 300 New York County Republicans who gathered for the 2014 Lincoln Dinner celebration in midtown Manhattan, real estate tycoon Donald Trump challenged the states Republican leadership to unify behind him, declare there would no primary and he would accept the nomination to run against Andrew Cuomo this fall.
In a 20 minute speech berating president Barack Obama, former NY governor Mario Cuomo and present governor Andrew Cuomo, Trump says he will cut taxes, create green energy jobs and bring New York back to its glory during the LaGuardia era if he is elected New York’s next governor.
Earlier in the day, 28 county Republican chairmen, whose counties contain almost 60% of the Republicans in the state, met with Trump in his office urging him to run.
Trump said that Westchester Country Executive Rob Astorino, who has made it known that he is interested in running, has no chance to beat Cuomo, who has amassed a $33 million re-election fund.
Trump says that he if runs, he will outspend Cuomo.
Trump was introduced on stage by veteran stage, screen and award winning actor Tony Lo Bianco.