NY’s GOP digs deep and finds more turmoil and disarray

It’s hard to imagine New York’s Republican Party finding any more ways to do itself damage.

The GOP holds no statewide offices and controls no part of the state legislature.

As the outsider party, Republicans would seem to be perfectly poised to capitalize on an epic run of Democratic scandals and mismanagement.

But now a massive rift has opened between different factions of the GOP itself, triggered by state party leader Ed Cox’s decision to support a Democrat for governor.

Granted, that Democrat — Steve Levy — now calls himself a Republican. But the paint is still drying on his new affiliation.

And Republicans thought they already had a leading candidate for the governor’s office in Rick Lazio.

Now, Essex County GOP chairman Ronald Jackson is joining the call for Cox to resign. This from WNBZ:

“When [Cox] went in, he promised to do two things: raise money and unite the party. He’s raised no money at all,” Jackson said. “And by endorsing a liberal Democrat when you already have a conservative Republican running he is dividing the party not uniting it.”

Yikes. It’s hard to strategize a way for Republican defeating Democrat Andrew Cuomo at this point.

Cuomo holds a commanding lead in the polls.

But with Republicans circling up their firing squad, Lazio’s chances now look even dimmer.

This kind of willful disarray could also hinder other big races, including the Republican effort to recapture North Country House seats in the 20th, 23rd and 24th districts.

Your thoughts?