2012
Wendy Long mocks Gillibrand's 'war on women' theme, says she's not running for 'hottest senator'
Wendy Long coasted to the New York State Conservative Party's U.S. Senate nomination today, with the strong backing of the state chairman Mike Long, who's made no secret of the fact that he thinks running a tough woman against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand gives his side the best chance in an uphill battle. More
(6)Ed Towns and 'good friend' Darrell Issa hold a combative foreclosure hearing in Brooklyn
California Republican Darrell Issa laughed off his rough reception at Brooklyn Borough Hall for a field hearing on foreclosure, convened on Monday morning by the House Oversight Committee at the request of his colleague, Brooklyn Democrat Ed Towns.
"Mr. Chairman, I wanted you to know that we're delighted to have you in Brooklyn, of course," said Towns. "Despite the reception that you received, we're delighted to have you, there's no doubt about it." More
(2)The circumstances aren't special anymore, but Bob Turner still sees a 'fair shot' running statewide against Gillibrand
The coalition that gathered at the Roma View Restaurant in Howard Beach six months to celebrate the upset victory of congressman-elect Bob Turner included former Mayor Ed Koch, who supported Turner over the Democrats to "send a message" to President Obama about Israel, and New York State Conservative Party chair Mike Long, who said it was about spending and jobs.
"I am telling you," said Turner, more subdued than the rest, when he finally took the stage that night. "I am the messenger. Heed us. This message will resound for a full year. It will resound into 2012."
Now, with his congressional district slated for elimination in the redistricting process, Turner, a 70-year-old retired cable executive, is seeking the Republican nomination to run for U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand. But neither Koch nor Long is with him this time. More
ACORN, roused: Bertha Lewis girds for Ed Towns' hearing with 'political necrophiliac' Darrell Issa
Bertha Lewis is not happy that Representative Ed Towns is bringing California Republican Darrell Issa, whom she called a "political necrophiliac," to Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday morning to chair a field hearing on the foreclosure crisis. More
(1)Using Nydia Velazquez, Democrats want a Sotomayor criticism to stick to Romney
On a conference call organized by the Democratic National Committee this morning, Brooklyn congresswoman Nydia Velazquez called Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor "an icon," and said Mitt Romney will pay at the polls for criticizing her as an "activist, liberal jurist." More
Lancman opts out of Mann-made primary against Ackerman
Assemblyman Rory Lancman won't challenge fellow Democratic Representative Gary Ackerman, nixing what could have been a bloody intra-party feud in the wake of redistricting lines that were drawn, for the first time, by a judge rather than the majority parties in Albany.
"My enthusiasm for running against Republican Bob Turner on a platform of leveling the economic playing field for working people doesn't extend to running against fellow Democrat Gary Ackerman,” Lancman said in a statement. More
Romney talks to donors about why this is such a long primary
At the Waldorf-Astoria this morning, Mitt Romney tried to explain to a breakfast fund-raiser of several hundred supporters why he's still fighting a war of attrition against a couple of underfunded opponents for the Republican nomination. More
(2)State Senate Republicans haven't totally given up on Bob Turner's district
Republicans in the State Senate are making one more last-ditch plea to protect Bob Turner's congressional seat.
Turner, who won a special election for what had been Anthony Weiner's seat in September, declared for the U.S. Senate yesterday, citing the proposed elimination of his district by the court's special master, Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann. More
How Romney abandoned the 'away game,' guaranteed another horrible news cycle
There were two moments that guaranteed a terrible news cycle for Mitt Romney today, despite the fact he actually won more delegates than any of his opponents last night. And they were both entirely Romney's doing. More
Gillibrand already raising off 'Rush's Guy' Turner; Turner camp responds with 'Obamacare'
Less than five hours after Congressman Bob Turner declared his intention to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand, the senator's re-election campaign is already fund-raising off his candidacy.
The email to supporters comes under the subject line "Rush's Guy," a nod to Turner's role in putting conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on television, back when Turner was a television executive. (The television version of Limbaugh's show wasn't nearly as successful as the subsequent radio version.) More
All George Maragos wants to do is run for Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand
First, he watched as internet entrepreneur Marc Cenedella quasi-announced, then abandoned, a bid for the Republican nomination this year to challenge Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand. Then he watched Manhattan attorney and judicial activist Wendy Long declare her candidacy, with help from some veteran G.O.P. operatives, as if he didn't exist. And today, Representative Bob Turner, who became a national Republican hero last year by winning Anthony Weiner's old seat in a special election, announced that he's joining the race too. More
(1)Gillibrand responds, mildly, to the Turner challenge
On a conference call about job-training programs today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand offered her first thoughts on the newly announced campaign of Republican congressman Bob Turner.
Asked what she thought of Turner's announcement and how the issue of jobs might factor into the race, she said, "The number-one issue around New York is the economy. And so I intend to talk about my vision for New York, what bills I'm working on, what I've done, what I hope to do, and what my priorities are. And I assume whoever is going to run will do the same." More
Conservative Party chair says Turner is 'too late,' will stick with Wendy Long
Conservative Party chairman Mike Long said the party was unlikely to back Representative Bob Turner's newly-announced campaign against U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, given the support that has already been drummed up by Wendy Long, a former clerk to Clarence Thomas who announced her candidacy last month. More
(1)Now raising money for Obama on Long Island: David Axelrod
President Obama's top campaign adviser, David Axelrod, will be on Long Island next month for a fund-raiser in Lloyd Harbor.
The April 9 event is being hosted by Jon Cooper, who was until recently the majority leader of the Suffolk County legislature before leaving office because of term limits. More
Gillibrand gets the Independence Party again
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the endorsement of the New York State Independence Party this morning in a statement sent by her campaign.
"In just three short years, Senator Gillibrand has hit the ground running and developed a record of accomplishment in the Senate that would be impressive for any Senator, let alone someone so new to Washington," said Independence Party chairman Frank MacKay in the statement. More
