Vito Fossella + Staten Island GOP endorsement, Vito Fossella says he just might try for a comeback.

A day after the Staten Island Republican Party executive committee stunned the New York political world by choosing the disgraced ex-congressman to run in the fall, Fossella wasn't saying no.

Claiming to be "surprised and deeply humbled" by the bizarre turn of affairs, Fossella said he'd think about it.

"I will make my decision within the next few days," he told reporters.

"I have a lot of people to call. A lot of things to consider," he said. "This is an unbelievable honor."
Fossella was a popular congressman who represented Staten Island for six terms until 2008, when his double life - complete with a love child in Virginia - was exposed after a drunk driving bust.

Recent rumors that he might try to return to politics culminated in Wednesday night's abrupt move by party chairman John Friscia to put Fossella back on the ticket, cold-shouldering the two candidates who were actually seeking the nod.

Members of the Staten Island GOP executive committee said it happened fast. Out of the blue, they found they had voted 23-4 to endorse Fossella, they said.

"I ended up being counted as a yes, but I was certainly not on board with what transpired," said one committee member, who asked that his name not be used.

He said many felt blindsided.

"We get to that point and (Friscia)'s talking about (Michael) Grimm and (Michael) Allegretti and about how they're really great candidates and, 'I like them both - but I think I'm going to nominate Vito Fossella.'

"And I'm like, 'what the hell?' I'm so flabbergasted. I got Vito's sister sitting a few feet away from me. What do you do?"

Committee member Tom McGinley, a Fossella supporter, said, "People were leaning over to me asking, 'What happened?' As quick as it happened, the motion was closed, the ayes had it. Four people got up and said no."

Afterwards, one committee member said everyone was "dumbfounded."

"If he's going to run, you come in, you interview - that's the way you do this stuff. And that's not what he did," he said.

"It just makes the whole party look like such a joke and such a pawn in his pursuit of going into public office again."

Allegretti dismissed the machinations of the exective committeee, saying the voters will choose and they will choose him.