Long-Shot NY Congressional Candidate Runs Against High-Speed Rail

Over the years, veteran Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) has pushed so doggedly for construction of a new train line in her upstate New York district that one state legislator christened her “Mrs. High-Speed Rail.”

GOP congressional candidate Michael Giuliano is staking his long-shot bid in part on a critique of high-speed rail. (Photo: Giuliano for Congress)

Now Slaughter’s support for rail, which helped win $151 million in federal stimulus funding for upgrades in the Albany and Buffalo areas, is generating attack lines for her newly minted Republican challenger.

Local attorney Michael Giuliano, billing himself as a “voice for freedom and constitutional government,” launched his campaign today with a shot at Slaughter’s quest for a so-called Empire Corridor connecting New York City with the economically distressed upstate region.

“We all remember the taxpayer rip-off that was to allow Rochestarians to enjoy ‘fast ferry’ service to Toronto,” Giuliano campaign director Jamie Heaton said in a statement.
“Now we will have a high speed ‘railroad to nowhere.'”

Giuliano, it should be noted, is the longest of long shots in a race against Slaughter, who coasted to victory last year in her twelfth re-election battle. But Giuliano’s criticism of upstate New York high-speed rail could be replicated by Fred Smerlas, the Buffalo Bills player turned radio host who is reportedly weighing a run of his own against Slaughter.