Despite Rudy Giuliani's best efforts to get his own man appointed to the post, state Republicans will almost certainly appoint Edward F. Cox, son-in-law to Richard Nixon, as party chair. Cox has already said he'd rather have Giuliani run for Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand, rather than for the governor spot (particularly if he'd have to face off against Andrew Cuomo). But Giuliani hasn't returned Cox's calls — maybe because Cox was state chairman for the presidential campaign of John McCain, the man who beat Giuliani to the GOP nomination. [NYT]