Pataki was instrumental in bringing the 2004 Republican National Convention to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan . New York City , which normally votes overwhelmingly Democratic ( the Democratic Presidential candidates carried 78 percent of the city vote in both 2000 and 2004 ) , had never hosted a Republican Convention . He introduced President George W. Bush . A year prior , Pataki had boasted Bush would carry the state in the 2004 elections ; Bush lost New York 58 – 40 to John Kerry . Pataki notably orated , referencing the recently deceased Ronald Reagan , " This fall , we 're going to win one for the Gipper . But our opponents , they 're going to lose one with the Flipper . " Pataki suffered a burst appendix and had an emergency appendectomy on February 16 , 2006 , at Hudson Valley Hospital Center . Six days later , he developed a post-surgical complication ( bowel obstruction caused by adhesions ) and was transferred to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center for a second operation . From there , he was discharged on March 6 . Doctors advised rest at home since his conditions could last up to a month . On the week of March 20 – 24 , 2006 , he appeared at a public press conference looking fit and thinner to comment on the progress of the annual budget and the recent Campaign for Fiscal Equity ruling from the New York state court . During Pataki 's two surgeries , when he was under anesthesia , power officially transferred to Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue , making her the state 's acting governor
2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
George Pataki