On the second and final day of the annual Conservative Party conference near Albany, two Republican contenders in 2018 had to answer questions on President Donald Trump's controversial executive order on immigration.
Rob Astorino, the 2104 GOP nominee for governor and current Westchester County Executive, along with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro both criticized the "roll-out" of Trump's action that indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. as well as suspending all refugee admissions for four months. Astorino claimed it was not a "Muslim ban" and said the "festering of the terrorism" currently is in the seven Muslim-majority countries that that are blocked from entering the United States under the order for the next 90 days.
Molinaro, a rising star in the Republican Party, quickly answered "yes" when asked if he was considering a run for governor in 2018. Astorino, who is vying for reelection this year as county executive, said it was too early to start thinking about the gubernatorial race but did say he was in better shape for a run next year if he chooses to do so.
