By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Sabres owner Thomas Golisano switched his political party affiliation today to the Republicans and said he's seriously considering a bid for governor next year.
He had founded the Independence Party and was that party's unsuccessful candidate for governor three times.
Erie County Republican Chairman Robert Davis says it's always a good day when someone joins the party. But he admits this party switch is unusual.
"We've never seen a situation such as this where a candidate for governor, in this case Tom Golisano, ran under one party label and now has switched to another party, in this case the Republican party, and is probably going to run on the Republican party line...But he's got'ta be nominated first," said Davis.
Davis said Golisano would likely attract votes from the Buffalo area because of his high name recognition here.