At a sparsely attended rally in honor of John McCain, prominent New York State Republicans threw their support behind the Arizona senator, including former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Sens. Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) and Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
Introduced as "the Pothole Senator," D’Amato told the crowd of a few hundred that he has heard some say that McCain is not conservative enough. "You don’t want John McCain? You want Hillary Clinton?" he asked, to an immediate response of boos.
D’Amato encouraged the crowd to vote Tuesday, and said, "Let’s carry it with record breaking numbers. John McCain will remember that."
The 70-year-old also informed the audience that tomorrow his wife, Katuria, will be giving birth to their son, to be named Alfonse.
In honor of the New York Giants’ win last night, Bruno concluded the rally, with, "Tomorrow will be a giant victory, with John McCain as the quarterback."
Melissa Mansfield in Albany