Rangel and Suozzi Clash Over Backing From Wealthy Republican [View All]

Rangel and Suozzi Clash Over Backing From Wealthy Republican

By JENNIFER MEDINA
Published: June 16, 2006

A leading Democrat in the New York Congressional delegation yesterday criticized Thomas R. Suozzi, a Democratic candidate for governor, faulting his association with a wealthy Republican benefactor who opposes Democrats in Washington.

The Congressional leader, Representative Charles B. Rangel, said that Mr. Suozzi should return the thousands of dollars he has received from the supporter, Kenneth G. Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot.

"Some of us believe that the Republican Party has taken our state of New York, as well as our nation, in the wrong direction," Mr. Rangel wrote in a letter to Mr. Suozzi, which was also distributed to reporters. "I certainly thought that you were one of us."

Mr. Suozzi retorted just hours later, saying that he was a loyal Democrat and that he and Mr. Langone "fundamentally disagree on this issue."
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/16/nyregion/16gov.html?_r=1&oref=slogin