George Pataki

53rd Governor of New York (1995-2007), first elected in 1994 and re-elected in 1998 and 2002; he decided not to run for a fourth term in 2006 and has been replaced by Democrat Eliot Spitzer. Prior to his stint as governor of the Empire State, he served as mayor of his hometown, Peekskill, for 10 years.

"You know, as Republicans we're lucky. This fall, we're going to win one for the Gipper. But our opponents - they're going to lose one with the Flipper" - at the 2004 Republican National Convention, in reference to Ronald Reagan and John Kerry, respectively.