Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, said that while Mitt Romney may not win New York, he should net at least half the voters in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Speaking at Hofstra University ahead of the 2012 presidential debate, King said the threat of higher taxes will push more local voters away from President Barack Obama and into the Romney camp.
"The president wants to raise taxes on the very rich, which the president defines as $250,000," King said. "The only problem is $250,000 on Long Island is not very rich. It's not a lot of money. Raising taxes would be devastating to the local economy."
Romney added that the trifecta of more taxes, a sluggish housing market and the the threat of terrorism will lead to a strong Romney performance on Long Island.
If Romney were to pull off the strong local performance, he would have to do far better than his Republican predecessor, Sen. John McCain. President Obama won Nassau County by pulling in nearly 54 percent of the vote. He also earned the endorsement of 52.5 percent of Suffolk County voters.
But King said Romney will close that gap.
Separately, King called the Tuesday's presidential debate a huge win for Hofstra and Long Island.
"Take a look at the students on campus, the national and international press and everything else," King said. "It's great."
