Reed Re-Confirms Support with GOP Chairs

Tom Reed went from having one of the most competitive races in the country to not even having an opponent.

"It's been a roller coaster, it's been up and down," said Reed.

He's trying to calm things down by staying opponent-free.  Reed's spent the last few days shoring up Republican support, winning new assurances from seven of eight county chairs that they wouldn't desert him for Maggie Brooks.

"We're not going anywhere, we believe in what we're doing.  We are going to stand firm and go hard all the way to the end," said Reed.

The Monroe County Executive went to Washington Monday for an event at the White House.  Before her plane left, she didn't say what reception her phone calls have gotten outside her own county.  But she says top Republicans should be willing to change their minds.

"I think the county chairs would be reasonable about that, and there's an opportunity to talk to them about who the candidate might be," said Brooks.

Privately, even Democrats consider Brooks almost unstoppable if she runs, given her fundraising prowess and wide name recognition.

"Spending all those years on television and radio gives you some name recognition that some others might not have," said Brooks.

Reed has brooks on the list of things he can't control, and insists the advantage is his, if a special election were held.

"We obviously have the strength of our organization, we've been on the trail since July 1st, we've put 38 thousand miles on the vehicle," said Reed.