Ed Cox

Republican Chairman Ed Cox responded to the Democratic criticism the GOP is receiving for having U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz headline a May 29 fundraiser.

Earlier this morning the state Democratic Committee Executive Director and mainline Senate Democrats blasted the invitation extended to Cruz for the GOP’s annual dinner this month, namely for his vote against Hurricane Sandy aid.

But Cox sought to turn the argument back by knocking Cuomo’s push to enhance abortion laws, which he said in the statement would “expand late-term abortions” in the state.

Cox also noted in the statement that Cruz, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, is only one of three sitting Hispanic lawmakers in the Senate.

His full statement:

“Mr. Capel’s hysterics notwithstanding, the truly extreme position is the one taken by Governor Cuomo in his State of the State address, where he called for passage of the so-called “Reproductive Health Act,” which would expand late-term abortions in New York, even up to the day of a baby’s birth.

“This extreme and unnecessary legislation does nothing to protect a woman’s right to choose. However, its provision allowing non-doctors to perform abortions will put the health and safety of tens of thousands of women at risk. Is that what the New York Democratic Party really wants?

“The New York Democratic Party has become the Party of extremists who want to open the door to horrors such as those perpetrated by Pennsylvania’s Dr. Gosnell who killed innocent babies by severing their spinal cords after they had already taken their first breaths. Will Mr. Capel attempt to justify that too?

“For the record, Ted Cruz is one of only three sitting Hispanic U.S. Senators. He is an example for millions of Latinos as they chase the American Dream. By attacking his life story, the New York Democratic Party has shown its true anti-Latino colors.”

New York Republican Chairman Ed Cox today lamented the Chris Gibson-versus-Andrew Cuomo gubernatorial contest that would have been, but suggested today some political machinations behind the Republican congressman’s decisions to decline to run.

Cox pointed to reports that Cuomo was seriously considering an early endorsement of Democrat Sean Eldridge who is mulling a run in the congressional district Gibson currently represents.

The GOP had previously floated Gibson as a possible Republican challenger to the Democratic governor in 2014.

In the past, Cuomo has withheld endorsements of Democratic House candidates until late in the election season.

Cox said in an interview the early endorsement played a factor in Gibson making a decision to stay in his House district. But it’s a sign that Cuomo is keeping an eye on his potential Republican challengers more than a year before the re-election campaign heats up.

“It’s very interesting. We expressed an interest on his behalf if you will when we were talking about potential candidates,” Cox said. “And the governor somewhat out of character than what he’s done before all of sudden said ‘I’m going to come out and support the opponent to Chris Gibson’ — forcing him to make a decision early. The governor is paying attention the politics.”

Cox called Gibson, a retired army field colonel, a “complete contrast to the governor — a lifetime, professional politician.”

“That would have been a good race,” he said. “Chris was forced to make a decision by what the governor did and he’s going to stay in Congress.”

Cox believes Cuomo is still vulnerable, in part because of his steep poll drop following the approval of the January gun control (Cuomo has spun the poll numbers as a badge of honor after expending consierable political capital to make the law happen).

The chairman also believes Cuomo’s insistence that “New York is open for business” will backfire if the economy gets worse.

“Anyone, especially a person whose been saying very sunny things about the economy and New York works, those numbers haven’t changed,” he said of unemployment and taxes. “We’re the most regulated state. Those are things he has not focused on. He’s focused on his progressive agenda. He will be at risk if the economy goes sour both nationally and here in New York state.”

Watch Ed Cox Interview Here >> (TWC ID required)

As part of an effort for Republican Party in New York and across the country to reach out to the minority community, state Republican Chairman Ed Cox and his RNC counterpart, Reince Priebus, will be appear together in Brooklyn for an African-American “listening tour.”

Interestingly, the event also includes the Rev. A.R. Bernard, the influential pastor at Christian Cultural Center, who Cox had urged to get into the New York City mayor’s race earlier this year.

The event takes place Monday at 2 p.m. at the Christian Cultural Center.

The Republican National Committee is conducting a series of meetings around the country as part of what it’s calling a Growth and Opportunity Project in order to expand its base. Pundits credited Mitt Romney’s loss in 2012 to the changing demographics of the country and the GOP’s struggle to reach non-white voters.