Hank Sheinkopf
Thompson staffs up with a 2009 Bloomberg consultant and a 2012 Obama aide
Bill Thompson announced today that he has hired a prominent Democratic consultant who, four years ago, worked against him. More
(1)What it means when liberals attack Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo spoke at just one event at the Democratic National Convention. On his podium, was the phrase "Celebrate Progressive Leadership." Behind him was a giant banner calling New York—the New York of Mario and Andrew Cuomo—the "Progressive Capital of the Nation." More
How will a Democratic takeover affect Andrew Cuomo's Albany arrangement?
Andrew Cuomo had a good thing going, in terms of his ability to make the trains run on time. More
(2)How much would Bill Thompson actually spend to advertise his ethnicity?
Today, a report in the Post quoted a "political source" saying, of Bill Thompson's media strategy for next year's mayor's race, that he "will spend every dollar he has on television ads to show New Yorkers that he’s black." More
Ed Towns hires Hank Sheinkopf, again, for a possible re-election campaign
In what ought to be a clear sign that Ed Towns is (despite a characteristically unvigorous campaign schedule) planning to run for re-election this year, he has offically enlisted Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf to handle his press. More
Romney leads Santorum among N.Y. Republicans, who may actually get to help choose the nominee
Mitt Romney has a 16 percentage point lead over Rick Santorum among Republican voters in New York, according to a new Seina poll today.
Romney, who didn't come close to knocking Santorum out of the race in last night's primaries, despite heavy spending by his campaign and by super PACs on attacks ads, leads Santorum among every category of Republican voter here, especially Republicans who identify themselves as liberal (+14) or moderate (+31). More
A party in need of resuscitation for a candidate in need of a following
When I asked Democratic consultant Jerry Skurnik about the news that Tom Allon will be the candidate of the Liberal Party in the 2013 mayor's race, his reaction was that it's better than nothing, marginally.
"It's better to be running as the Liberal Party candidate rather than some created name like Neighborhood Party," he said. More
Radio ad: 'Liu wants to give Wall Street bankers your money'
Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd, who is one of many people considering running for mayor, is out with a radio commercial criticizing Comptroller John Liu's plan to merge the management of five city pensions.
The ad doesn't mention that the plan also has the support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who, when he announced the plan with Liu, was surrounded by union leaders, including Floyd. More
Cuomo provides potentially crucial help to Dems, and limits self-exposure
Hours before the polls close in a handful of contested races across New York, one thing is clear: Governor Andrew Cuomo will not come out a loser.
That’s according to Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who said that in selectively involving himself in local races, the governor has put himself in a position to share the spotlight if his candidates win, but not to be seen as suffering any kind of electoral rebuke if they lose. More
Christine Quinn mumbles goodbye to an old, problematic story about slush funds
"No one running against Speaker Quinn for mayor will be able to use a slush fund headline" said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who helped re-elect Quinn ally Mayor Bloomberg in 2009.
"This will only strengthen her hand," Sheinkopf said. "She not only becomes clean as a speaker, but also clean as a mayoral candidate because she can say she assisted in the probe." More
Queens boss Joe Crowley picked a losing candidate in NY-9, but that doesn't make him a loser
"We won Queens County 52-48. I had a good day yesterday in Queens."
That's what Representative Joe Crowley, the Queens County Democratic boss who selected David Weprin to run for the Anthony Weiner seat, said to Politico reporter Jake Sherman about yesterday's special election in New York's Ninth Congressional district.
Maybe he was kidding. (Hopefully he was, at least a little?) Because of course the bottom line is that his candidate ran in a district that included Brooklyn, and lost badly, in a race that the whole country was watching. More
Your predictions for the NY-9 special election of 2011
So, the polls have closed and the unofficial results are trickling in. While that gets sorted out, a few readers bravely ventured their educated guesses on tonight's turnout. Most of the people think it's going to be a Republican upset, but that may say something about my limited email list. More
Turner targets conservative-leaning Jews of the Ninth, but just how conservative-leaning are they?
The Bob Turner campaign has launched a new ad campaign aimed squarely at the conservative-leaning Jewish vote in the Ninth Congressional District, a demographic that has received a disproportionate amount of attention in the run-up to the September 13 special election to replace former Rep. Anthony Weiner.
The campaign has paid an undisclosed sum of money to run ads on a number of web sites, including YeshivaWorld.com, where a banner ad is already up. “Obama thinks he can fix the economy on a bus,” it begins. “He already threw Israel under it. It’s time to put on the brakes and send a clear message to Washington. Vote Bob Turner for Congress this Tuesday, September 13.” More
