New York State’s Conservative Party leaders are backing former President Donald Trump for the White House ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire Republican Party — citing massive support for the Queens native from rank-and-file members.
“The evidence is there’s overwhelming support in the Conservative Party for Donald Trump,” state Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar said.
“I personally support Donald Trump again for president,” Kassar told The Post.
Kassar said Trump, 77, will curb illegal immigration and help rein in the US-Mexico border crisis that has spiraled out of control under President Biden.
“There’s no place that can handle the population of migrants coming into the country. The numbers of migrants arriving here is way past what’s manageable. Allowing everyone in is not a policy,” he said.
Biden and the Democrats own the problem, which will take years to fix, Kassar said, adding, “but we have to start with President Trump.”
The Conservative Party is the third largest vote-getter in the Empire State after the Democratic and Republican Parties, earning line C on the ballot.
The Conservative Party often — though not always — aligns with the Republican Party in supporting right-of-center candidates, particularly for president.
Kassar said he typically sits back and lets Conservative leaders in New York’s 62 counties determine who to back for president.
But he said 10 counties have already endorsed Trump and an avalanche of others will soon follow.
The Orange County Conservative Party endorsed Trump last week.
“President Trump’s strength as our country’s leader kept the United States, and particularly our borders secure. Now we are confronted with leaders on a national and state level who are allowing the United States to be overrun by illegal migrants, our international standing to be marginalized, and our military to be demoralized.” Orange County Conservative Party chairwoman Grace White said.
“Returning Donald Trump to the White House is the best tonic for what ails us.” she said.
The New York Republican Party primary will be held April 2, though it’s unlikely to be a competitive contest should Trump win in New Hampshire.
State GOP chairman Ed Cox has remained neutral, saying he wanted to give all Republican candidates for the White House the opportunity to stump in the state.
But five of New York’s nine House Republicans are supporting Trump, The Post reported on Saturday.
Kassar said the groundswell for Trump is not a knock on the other candidates. Grassroots Conservatives admire Trump more, liking his policies during his one-term in office.
He said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 45, has been a “super” governor of Florida but it’s “not his time” with Trump, the former president, in the race.
Trump is comfortably ahead in New Hampshire’s GOP primary, leading rival Nikki Haley in recent polls.
But sources said the former US Ambassador to the UN can close the gap if a large turnout of Independent voters who can vote in the GOP primary turn out for her, offsetting Trump’s support among registered Republicans.
If Trump wins the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, he will be in such a strong position that there’s a chance that his remaining rivals — DeSantis and Haley — would drop out of the race.
