Despite those developments, the rumor and speculation continued unabated today, with two top Island politicos saying that the only reason Fossella even considered getting back in the race was because Straniere had previously agreed to step aside if the congressman decided to run again.
"There was this whole big plan," said one. "Suddenly, Straniere said no."
In fact, sources said, the late GOP congressional designee Frank Powers also was meant to serve as a "placeholder" candidate should Fossella decide to get back in.
The thinking, they said, was that the Fossella camp would look to launch a re-election bid after the scandal about the child the congressman fathered during an extramarital affair abated.
This is the problem:
"It's over," said Straniere, who has battled with some borough Republicans for years. "I am the Republican candidate for Congress. I'm not getting off the line for nobody, no way, no how. I am totally committed to this race. I'm not going to do anything but run for Congress."
This is Democrat Mike McMahon laughing all the way to the Washington, D.C.
