The men who chair Erie County's two major political party committees typically clash on the issues. But they share the opinion that Vice President Joseph Biden's decision not to run for the White House benefits their respective eventual nominees.
Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Jeremy Zellner had already thrown his support behind Hillary Clinton long before Wednesday's announcement by Biden. That decision, Zellner says, gives his party the opportunity to unite, even though Clinton still faces a primary challenge by Bernie Sanders.
While expressing his respect for Sanders, and praising the civil nature of the Democratic campaign so far, Zellner told WBFO in a telephone interview that Clinton, a former U.S. Senator representing New York, has the experience which makes her the proper choice.
"I think Hillary has much more experience than Bernie on a global sense, and I think she has fought for women and families for her entire career," Zellner said. "I would say that about 95 percent of the issues that Bernie Sanders believes in, Hillary is right there with him."
Zellner added that while Sanders has his supporters, locally they are usually not registered Democrats but rather more independent voters. Clinton, meanwhile, is well connected with Democratic leaders in Erie County, Zellner added.
"If and when she has the honor of becoming the president, when the county executive from Erie County calls her, she can put a picture to Erie County," he said.
Also welcoming Biden's decision, for different reasons, was Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy. In his phone interview with WBFO, Langworthy suggested Biden would have been the most respected and likeable of the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination next year.
Not having Biden in the running, he said, gives the eventual GOP nominee a better chance of winning. Langworthy suggests voters are tired of Hillary Clinton, while some find Sanders far too left-leaning for their liking.
"Bernie Sanders has some radical positions," Langworthy said. "The fact that he is actually leading in some areas and is out-raising Hillary Clinton, in terms of the fundraising, I think speaks to a very radical message that the Democratic party is presenting."
Langworthy expressed his confidence that the Republicans can win the White House next year. However, he admitted that he expects New York State's electoral votes, in the winner-take-all format of the nation's electoral system, to be won by the eventual Democratic nominee.
"Realistically, New York State hasn't voted for a Republican candidate for the presidency since 1984," Langworthy said. "That's a very long time ago, and with three million more Democrats than Republicans, the likelihood that New York becomes a targeted swing state is very, very slim."
