Ed Rollins

A few thoughts on Ed Rollins' surprise re-emergence as Mike Huckabee's campaign chairman:

• Obviously, Rollins brings a measure of Beltway-media credibility to Huckabee, who, despite his surging poll numbers, is still dismissed by most of the insider class as an affable rube who's in way over his head. Having someone with Rollins' background running the campaign will also inspire confidence among potential donors, another area where Huckabee has lagged.

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So, who stands to benefit from the Bernie Kerik fallout for Rudy Giuliani?

Political consultant Ed Rollins thinks the Democrats, rather than any of Giuliani's Republican opponents, are the ones who can really capitalize on it.

Rollins, who has worked on Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign and ran the campaign of a G.O.P. senate candidate against Hillary Clinton last year, told me, “Certainly what Republicans will do with it won’t matter as much as what Democrats will do with it, if he becomes the nominee.”

He added, “Suppose he’s the nominee in March or April. Trial goes on six months from now. Every single day. New York Times, L.A. Times, every single other newspaper is [writing about] Rudy’s Corrupt Cop. It diminishes somewhat, the ‘I was super mayor. I made all these wonderful things happen.’ So I think to a certain extent it’s serious.”

On many levels, the apparently imminent selection of Joseph Mondello to run the state Republican Party is a real head-scratcher. He's the guy, after all, who oversaw the demise of the Nassau GOP that both foreshadowed and contributed to the collapse of its state counterpart.

The best, most obvious explanation for his ascent is that he's taking a job that, for now, no one else wants.

But outspoken GOP strategist Ed Rollins, at least, is happy with the choice. "As a party boss," he said, "there's nobody better."

Rollins made the unlikely argument that Mondello is, at this point, enough of an outsider to tackle an organization that needs a complete overhaul. "The role is different when you don't have any state offices...He's got to build a totally independent fund-raising organization," and build the party "from the grassroots."

Solid logic? Or wishful thinking?

-- Azi Paybarah

How long can this last?

KT McFarland spends yesterday being trailed by reporters asking her to respond to her brother's assertion that she's "evil."

Then, at a fundraiser last night, KT supporter"Bud" McFarlane tells Ben that all the personal stuff coming out about his Reagan administration colleague is the Post's fault. Ed Rollins backs him up.

And today, well, there's more.

"Off-message" doesn't really do it justice.

-- Josh Benson

As KT McFarland shakes off today's Post report and prepares for her big fund-raiser tonight with all those Reagan-era Cold Warriors, Rob Ryan wonders (aloud, to us) what one attendee thinks about a recent statement from KT campaign manager Ed Rollins.

The attendee: General P.X. Kelley, former commandant of the Marine Corps.

The statement, from a recet New York Magazine story, was that "There were so many guys getting killed in Vietnam that it wasn't so difficult [for Spencer to be made first lieutenant]--and it wasn't so difficult to get a Bronze Star."

McFarland's campaign said that Rollins has already addressed the comment ("I never intended to cast aspersions on John Spencer's military record. I have only respect for anyone who has served or is serving our country,") and argued that they are focused only on Spencer's record as Mayor of Yonkers.  read more »

Ryan doesn't buy it: "KT McFarland has Ed Rollins and his surrogates throw mud and then she sits there and acts oblivious to everything that goes on around her. She has to be accountable for the actions of her staff."

- Jason Horowitz

Last night on Inside City Hall, Dominic Carter interviewed KT McFarland advisor Ed Rollins who took a shot at John Spencer.

The Times reports that Democrats are going after Northeast Republicans, attempting to win back the house; and on Tom Suozzi's unveiled property tax plan.

The Sun reports on Mike Bloomberg and eminent domain; and George Pataki may be courting Suozzi as a successor.

—Nicole Brydson

What a strange place Reagan advisor Ed Rollins has occupied in this year's Senate races.

Down in Florida, he trashed his candidate, Katherine Harris, and is now -- no surprise -- leaving that campaign.

Here in New York, Steve Minarik has decided that picking a fight with Rollins might be the last straw for KT. But she's standing by her man. Here's her statement:

While I respect Mr. Minarik's power as State Party Chairman, I do not believe it extends this far. Who I choose to advise me is my business and my business alone. Ed Rollins is not only the best in the business, he is a friend and he is staying. This is non-negotiable.

At some point one has to ask: Who cares?

The Post reports Stephen Minarik has told KT McFarland to fire Ed Rollins from her campaign, and Ada Smith could face censure.

The Times reports that Hillary Clinton's strategy for winning in 2008 might be winning in 2006.

The Albany Times Union reports that less than one in five donors to John Spencer's campaign is from New York.

And the Sun reports that Charles Hynes plans to try Clarence Norman a fourth time.

—Nicole Brydson

Her resident guru, Ed Rollins, just quit Katherine Harris's Florida Senate bid, and promptly trashed her in the press. "Great moments in backstabbing," says Josh Marshall. UPDATE: A person who has spoken to Rollins says he didn't quit the Harris campaign before criticizing his candidate. Which seems even weirder.

That odd KT McFarland campaign filing, whose entries for golf with Rudy got broken (twice!) by the News, has another interesting thread. She bought meals at the Union Club for three political consultants: Roger Stone -- best known around here for work with Sharpton and Golisano; Reagan guru Ed Rollins; and Hank Sheinkopf, a Democrat now working for Mark Green, among others.

Also, 162.93 at Cosco for "HALLOWEEN WITCH OUTFIT."

Rollins got the gig, and the $5,000 monthly retainer.

In an interview today, Republican Senate candidate John Spencer told The Politicker he thinks Hillary Clinton put KT McFarland up to challenging him for his party's nomination.

"The Clintons are pretty slick. They'll never have any fingerprints on it, but it sure looks that way," he said. "The only beneficiary of this is Mrs. Clinton."

He said he didn't have any clear evidence of the plot, but that he found McFarland's sudden entrance amid a burst of media coverage "mystifying."

As for McFarland herself, "I don't think she has any credentials, quite frankly."

"She gets all this press coverage, which I find mystifying," he said, pointing to her Hardball appearance yesterday and Good Morning America today, not to mention an A1 slot in the Times.

And to be fair, it is a little mystifying. Spencer thinks it's because "if you're not a millionaire or a self-proclaimed celebrity, you don't get any attention." It may also have something to do with the fact that KT has an oldtime GOP power broker, Ed Rollins, working the phones for her.