In yet another sign of the disastrous recruiting difficulties that continue to plague the GOP, a top New York Republican has just acknowledged in an interview that most of the party's choices to replace scandal-plagued Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) have already opted out of the race, opening up this GOP-leaning district to a strong Democratic challenge.

It's hard to overstate how much this race tells us about the GOP's national troubles, and what tough sledding they're facing this Fall in the Congressional races -- after all, this is the party's local stronghold in New York City, but they haven't been able to find a candidate.

"Unfortunately, as you go down the list, most of them have taken themselves out," said former Rep. Guy Molinari, the unofficial leader of the Staten Island GOP, in a phone call with Election Central.

Potential candidates who have thus far declined include: District Attorney Dan Donovan, county clerk Stephen Fiala, New York City councilmen James Oddo and Vincent Ignizio, and Federal Transit Authority administrator James Simpson.

At the moment, Molinari is looking at businessman Paul Atanasio, community activist Dennis McKeon, and Judge James Maltese as potential recruits.

This is the only New York City district to have voted for President Bush in 2004, but the overall environment this year could changes things. "The Democrats have a good shot at this," Molinari said. "They've done well in the three specials that have been held so far."