New York Delegates Being Treated Like Royalty At Republican Convention
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork) -- New York delegates are convention royalty at this year's Republican National Convention.
CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported that delegates from the Empire State are getting some perks because of Donald Trump's candidacy.
"Our hotel four years ago was about an hour-and-a-half away, so we're excited that we're only two blocks away and we're going to be a big part of this year's convention," said Doug Colety, a delegate from White Plains.
The delegates have the number one spot on the convention floor, right in front of the podium.
"It's so exciting having a nominee from our home state, lives in Manhattan, and is from Queens, and is proudly a strapping New Yorker and it's a great turn of events," Manhattan GOP Chair Adele Malpass said.
The Trump candidacy even has some state delegates hoping that the traditionally Democratic-leaning New York might vote for a Republican for the first time since Ronald Reagan.
"You know, Trump is convinced that it can," New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said. "It would be historic. If we're winning New York, it's going to be a landslide."
"I think New York can go Republican. I'm hoping New York will go Republican, but not so much the old Republican. I think Donald Trump is the face of the new Republican Party," Michel Faulkner said.
However, some pundits believe New York will remain a blue state.
"New York has no chance of going red in terms of Trump winning it," Larry Levy of Hofstra University said. "I don't think there's a political analyst in the country who would go with that, but if Trump can do better than Romney it will help the candidates who are what you call down ballot members of Congress and members of the state Senate."
New York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan believes Trump will help draw support for Republican Senate candidates.
Trump will speak at the convention Monday night, introducing his wife, Melania Trump.