Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, who’s budget proposal is accused of costing his party a safe congressional seat in NY26, said, “the president and his party have decided to shamelessly distort and demagogue Medicare. So we are going to see new Mediscare reform campaign here.”
Video after the jump. Read More
From Buffalo News:
Hochul-48
Corwin-42
Davis-9
Murphy-1
The reactions:
WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor: “Tonight’s victory sends the message loud and clear to Washington: ‘Hands off our Medicare.”
DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz: ” It demonstrates that Republicans and Independent voters, along with Democrats, will reject extreme policies like ending Medicare that even Newt Gingrich called radical. “
New York Times’ Ray Hernandez: “Democrats scored an upset in one of New York’s most conservative congressional districts.”
Update: New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox denounced the ”radical scare tactics employed by the Democrats” and “divisive campaign of a self-funded spoiler.”
Jane Corwin downplays the notion the NY26 race is a referendum on House Republicans. Nate Silver is starting to, slightly, lean the other way.
Video after the jump. Read More
All eyes will be on the NY26 race today, where Democrat Kathy Hochul has taken a small lead against one-time favorite, Republican Jane Corwin, with Tea Party candidate Jack Davis is still polling in double digits.
So, what are your predictions?
Email me your prediction (for example: Hochul-48, Corwin-45, Davis-2) and I’ll post them once the polls close at 9 pm tonight, next to your name or whatever it is people call you. [My email: azipaybarah at gmail]
Along with bragging rights, I’ll see if I can get the winner(s) something laying around the Observer’s office. Maybe a t-shirt, or a mug. Or an Observer book.
Update: At 4:30, catch live footage of guys who have a much better crystal ball than I do — Brian Lehrer and Nate Silver. The topic: prediction elections.
Here’s Bill Clinton’s robocall for Kathy Hochul, the Democratic candidate leading in the NY26 special election tomorrow, where one-time favorite, Republican Jane Corwin, is now trailing.
The first thing Clinton says about Hochul is that she’ll “protect Medicaid,” which has become the defining issue in the race. Corwin hasn’t recovered her momentum since saying she would have voted for Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget ,which, according to critics, would have gutted the entitlement program for seniors. Read More
The Democratic consultant attacked in an anonymous robocall this afternoon for working with Tea Party candidate Jack Davis in the closely-watched NY26 special election is defending his work in the race, even though he admits he’s “working on a congressional seat that is probably not even going to be there next year.”
Here’s a snippet from my interview with Jim Spencer: Read More
NY26: Rubio for Corwin. [Celeste Katz]
NY26: Debate recap. [Robert Costa]
NY26: “while back in the Town of Greece for the funeral of my brother last week, I could not help but notice the charade that is occurring in the special election,” says a Corwin supporter. [Alysa Stryker]
NY26: Davis, quotable. [Dave McKinley]
NY26: Davis runs “most depressing ad ever?” [David Catanese]
NY26: “I visited both offices 10 minutes apart, around lunch time. Hochul’s call center was smaller, but totally full of youngish volunteers. Corwin’s call center was sprawling, but less full. Read into that: Not too much.” [David Weigel]
Trump: His school is under investigation by Schneiderman. [Michael Barbaro]
Tax Cap: GOP State Senator Flanagan shifts. [Liz Benjamin]
Headlines: ” Ghostbusters’ firehouse scheduled for Closure” [Fox]
Same-Sex Marriage: Strongest opponent is NYC Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long. “That fear of God he can put into people as a party leader is important” says Marty Golden. [Nick Confessore]
School Staffing: Amid layoff talks, city hiring teachers. [Rachel Monahan]
Students First: A video from the tour opposing Cuomo’s cuts. [Cara Matthews]
Video after the jump
Jack Davis ran for Congress three times as a Democrat and is currently a Tea Party candidate in New York’s 26th Congressional District, siphoning votes away from the Republican candidate, Jane Corwin, who is running in a dead heat with the Democratic candidate, Kathy Hochul.
Now, there’s a one-minute, anonymous robocall going out to a number of political operatives and reporters in New York City, criticizing one of Davis’s consultants, Jim Spencer, a Democrat, for his work in the race.
The ad appears aimed at the professional class of political operatives and writers, and it’s unclear if it’s also targeting regular voters. The caller, who is not identified, says at one point:
During your next election, when you are choosing which consultant to help you with your campaign mail, remember that Jim Spencer and the Campaign Network had no business calling themselves progressive when they’re currently representing a Tea Party candidate.
A New York City-based Democratic operative not working in the race forwarded me a recording of the call they got on their cell phone.
Update: A smart point from a reader on Twitter: “It’s like a weird reverse psychology call. Jack Davis is NO #teaparty candidate, but the caller feeds the premise that he is.”
Here’s my transcription:
This is an important message regarding the closely watched special election for Congress in the 26th District in New York.
Democratic consultant Jim Spencer, president of the Campaign Network in Boston is being paid big money to help the Tea Party candidate in this critical bellwether election. Although Jim Spencer has worked for Congressman Joe Kennedy, Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, he’s now changed his stripes and is backing the multi-millionaire Tea Party candidate while making a fortune for his supposedly progressive firm. The battle over Medicaid is being fought in Washington DC and the American people finally have the chance to weigh in through this crucial special election. During your next election, when you are choosing which consultant to help you with your campaign mail, remember that Jim Spencer and the Campaign Network had no business calling themselves progressive when they’re currently representing a Tea Party candidate.
Thank you for your attention to this important Democratic matter.
And, just for fun, here is how Google Voice translated the same message: Read More
If you have a better caption for this photo of the Tea Party candidate in the NY-26 special election, go for it.
(Hat tip to Read More
Anti-Terrorism: NYC could lose $186 million under GOP budget. [Alison Gendar and Richard Schapiro]
Murdoch’s Money: News Corp to disclose its political donations. [Brian Stelter]
NY26: Editors endorse Dem Hochul; more “rounded” view of government; better defender of health care. “If the goal were simply to cut the deficit, Corwin…would be the choice.” [Buffalo News]
NY26: Hochul and Corwin debate on Wednesday. [Bob McCarthy]
Bloomberg’s Money: It goes to organizations that support his agenda and sometimes employee former aides. [Candice Giove and Ginger Otis]
Bloomberg’s Transparency: Spokesman says pension funds should release names of retirees, and their earnings. [David Seifman]
Bloomberg’s Term: “For Bloomberg, this is beyond the lame-duck danger zone — this has the makings of a collapse. Unless his attitude changes, and he is able to convince the public he is fully engaged, I don’t see how he can substantially recover.” [Michael Goodwin]
Bloomberg’s Advice: “Don’t play it safe,” he tells grads at George Washington University. [NY1]
Cuomo’s Agenda: Many moving pieces; future agenda at stake now. [Jeremy Smerd]
Same-Sex Marriage: Wealth GOP donors join the coalition to legalize it. Chairman of Manhattan Institute among them. [Nick Confessore and Michael Barbaro]
Same-Sex Marriage: GOP State Senator Robach would support civil unions, but not marriage. [Cara Matthews]
Headline: “Cuomo Supports Marriage Equality; But Will Senate Have the Votes?’ [OutcomeBuffalo.com]
Redistricting: Bill Samuels fears the effort is “99 percent dead” for 2012. [Jon Campell]
Dinner Politics: Rep. Grimm skips SI GOP event, but drops a lot of money on it. Also, Bloomberg speaks to local State Island civic association on May 19. [Tom Wrobleski]
Education Staff: Administrator says Cuomo is “illogical and misleading” to not acknowledge impact of reducing staff. [John Metallo]
Education Politics: After questioned, de Blasio’s office removes link to UFT web site. [New York Post]
Regulating Wall Street: Cuomo’s chief of staff, Ben Lawsky, will need new state agency. [Dan Wiessner]
Taxis: Borough-only medallions in the works. [David Seifman]
Power Breakfast: Less stuffy than The Regency is 540 Park; Emma Bloomberg goes there. [Diane Cardwell]
Pedro Espada: Has an unauthorized “official business” placard from state police in his car. [Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein]
Vito Lopez: An ally of his was paid $23,000 for a 10-week job with Senate Democrats; not manny remember his work. [Aaron Short]
