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ALBANY — He didn’t call, he didn’t write.
State Republican Party leaders seemed hurt that gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Giuliani didn’t do more to schmooze them during his upstate campaign tour, according to audio of the discussions obtained by The Post.
Several officials, who also questioned Giuliani about his lack of experience during a closed-door meeting on Monday, also accused the former Trump White House aide of failing to pay homage while campaigning on their turf over the last several weeks
“You mentioned that you’ve been to all 62 counties. I don’t remember you coming to my county and if you did you never notified me to let me know that you were in my county,” griped Schoharie County GOP Chair Assemblyman Chris Tague during a private question and answer panel among candidates vying to be the party’s 2022 pick at the Marriott Hotel in Albany.
“To be quite honest, I haven’t heard from you once since you announced that you were running for governor. Not even an email!” he said.
Giuliani admitted that while he was in the unhappy chair’s county, he had to leave the country for a few days to handle a family issue and cut a few appearances short.
He also said he’s focused his campaign on connecting with small businesses, not party bosses.
“I apologize that you feel slighted. I can promise you I called you or emailed you back in April.”
“Did I call you or email you when I went to Schoharie County? The answer is, I probably didn’t, and for that I apologize that you feel slighted. I look forward to talking to you afterwards and meeting with you if you’ll take that meeting.”
Tague argued that he didn’t feel slighted, but he wanted to point out to the political novice that it’s “customary” to give the county chair a heads up while on the campaign trail.
Giuliani, 35, the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, spent the last four years as a special advisor to Trump — his first dive into politics. The elder Giuliani has served as Trump’s personal lawyer while he was in the White House.
“I like you, I think you’re a great guy. I have no problem supporting you, okay? I’m just telling you moving forward you’ve gotta let the county chairs know when you’re in their county…you’ve got to work with them too,” Tague added.
An aggrieved Hudson Valley-area party boss followed.
“Tony Scannapieco, Putnam County. Ditto,” he said.
Giuliani humbly admitted, “Ok well, we went to the Red Rooster in Putnam County,” to which the Chairman replied, “I know, I was just told today!”
Giuliani then recognized Tompkins County Chairman Mike Sigler, quickly heading off his question and drawing laughs from the crowd: “I stood you up — that’s even worse! Because I reached out to you guys, but I actually stood him up!”
“So you guys all talk together and talk about if I’m more of a, you know what.” laughed Giuliani.
“Hey, I had a few donors there for you,” joked Sigler, noting the pair ended up connecting after the missed meeting.
“My question is, it seems like, even though your father was involved in politics, you got involved when Trump was president and that’s awesome … What kind of political involvement have you had, like locally? It seems like you’re kind of saying, ‘Hey I want to run for governor.’ And great, I’m more than happy to have people in your field. What have you done politically for the party up until that point?” pressed Sigler.
“Well aside from growing up in it and, you know, experiencing it and spending time in the city and doing all that, licking envelopes as a kid and doing all that. The truth is, not much. That’s my answer,” Giuliani replied.
“The bulk of my political, professional experience is working on a successful presidential campaign, volunteering on a successful presidential campaign and working in the white house under President Trump, so that’s my answer.”
Although he did not receive a single vote during a straw poll — which anointed US Rep. Lee Zeldin as the party’s presumptive nominee — Giuliani vowed to run an insurgent campaign and petition his way on the ballot for 2022.
Party chairs will meet again in the winter to officially select their nominee, but the Monday straw poll results indicates Zeldin doesn’t have to worry about much in terms of support.
State party Chairman Nick Langworthy also told The Post later on that donors are not keen on running a primary, which would split funds and attention.
That means Giuliani and other candidates such as former Westchester county executive Rob Astorino, while have to petition their way onto the ballot.
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