Dr. Richard Becker (Photo: Facebook)

"With every minute 'No Comment' Nan refuses to take a stand, she takes on responsibility for Jay's hateful and hurtful remarks," Mr. Becker said. "Refusing to take a stand now and fire Townsend would permanently mark Nan as unfit to hold public office and unworthy of the public's trust."

Mr. Becker describes the reference to throwing acid as "particularly sickening."

"Acid attacks on women have a disturbing and disgusting history--they're used almost exclusively to silence and punish women across the globe who've bravely spoken out on behalf of their human rights," he said.

He also claimed Mr. Townsend's comments were "likely illegal."

"Threats to physically harm elected officials for disagreeing with you are specifically banned by federal law for a very good reason; they're just never acceptable, and are particularly corrosive in a democracy," said Mr. Becker. "The fact that these comments are likely illegal only highlights how far out of bounds they were--and how absurd it is that Jay Townsend is, as of this moment, still Nan Hayworth's official spokesman."

Mr. Becker finished his statement about the "acid attack" comments with a reference to the 2011 shooting of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

"Words have power, words this symbolic especially so," Mr. Becker said. "Last January, the US Congress saw some of the ugly and real - even if unintended - consequences of calls for political violence. I would have hoped Nan Hayworth learned the same lessons from that tragedy that the rest of us did."

As of this writing, Mr. Townsend has not responded to a request for comment on this story.

Richard Becker (Photo: Facebook)

Democratic Congressional candidate Richard Becker, who is running against Republican Nan Hayworth for her seat in the 19th district, issued a statement today slamming Ms. Hayworth for claiming to have a moderate voting record on Capitol Tonight yesterday while supporting the Medicare overhaul plan proposed by the GOP's top budget writer, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.

"Claiming to be a moderate on the same day that the profoundly radical Ryan Plan was re-released takes plenty of Chutzpah," Mr. Becker said.

"Nan clearly recognizes that her close ties to the House Republican leadership are toxic here in the Hudson Valley, but we're not going to let her ignore the consistent record of extremism she's built over her Congressional career,” Becker continued.

Mr. Ryan's health plan is just one part of his overall budget. The Ryan health plan would give future retirees "premium support" payments to choose their own health insurance through an exchange including private plans and a government option similar to the traditional Medicare program. Mr. Becker said the Ryan Plan is equivalent to "turning Medicare into a voucher program" and described Ms. Hayworth's support of the plan as "Exhibit A in a long list of instances when Nan hasn't put the Hudson Valley or the middle class first." In an appearance on Capital Tonight last year, Ms. Hayworth argued the premium support model is similar to the health insurance program currently offered to members of Congress.

"Members of Congress have a program that’s been widely praised that provides premium support and lets them choose among an array of approved insurance programs. And that’s what Medicare would do," Ms. Hayworth said.

Interestingly, Ms. Hayworth opted to keep her own private insurance plan from her prior medical career when she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010.

In his statement, Mr. Becker said Ms. Hayworth's record clearly shows she's not a moderate.

"Maybe she's hoping that we're stuck in the pre-Google age, where her Tea Party votes aren’t easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection," Mr. Becker said. "Nan clearly recognizes that her close ties to the House Republican leadership are toxic here in the Hudson Valley, but we're not going to let her ignore the consistent record of extremism she's built over her Congressional career."

Mr. Becker's statement was accompanied by a two-page document from his campaign spokesman, Barry Caro, identifying five examples of Ms. Hayworth's "out of touch extremism" including; her support for other elements of the Ryan Plan, her belief Hurricane Irene aid should have been accompanied by spending cuts and her positions on birth control.

Rep. Nan Hayworth (Photo: Getty)

Democrat Dr. Richard Becker isn't going to let a little thing like Congressional lines stop his plans to challenge Republican Congresswoman Nan Hayworth. If the draft maps released this morning by the special master are put into place, Dr. Becker will no longer live in Ms. Hayworth's district, but he's ready to move if he must.

"For the last three decades, I've been practicing medicine and building small businesses throughout the Hudson Valley. With the release of today's draft Congressional maps from the special master, it appears I'll be moving a couple minutes down the road," Dr. Becker said in a statement. "I've been a part of our community for over thirty years and I fully intend to represent us in Congress. I am in this campaign to win it, and am certain that we will replace 'No Comment Nan' with a real leader who'll represent us instead of the party bosses and financial elites."

Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander also plans to challenge Ms. Hayworth. His campaign manager, TJ Helmstetter, released a statement describing Mr. Alexander as the "only Democratic candidate in the race who lives in the district and has reported fundraising to date." It doesn't look like Mr. Alexander will have the district all to himself in the end, but Mr. Helmstetter still thinks the proposed maps give his man the edge. 

"The release of the Special Master map bears out our earlier predictions -- this seat is moving north and west. While we are losing portions of Westchester, we are gaining Democratic strongholds including Newburgh and Middletown. We need a Democratic candidate who has experience working with the people of the villages, towns and cities throughout the new district -- a candidate who has been able to pick up endorsements and build name recognition north of Westchester. That candidate is Matt Alexander," Mr. Helmstetter said.

"Mayor Alexander understands the challenges that the people of the Hudson Valley are facing, creating jobs, improving the economy and reducing the uncertainty for their families. As a resident of Dutchess County for 15 years and graduate from Cornwall High School (Orange County) before that, Mayor Alexander will remain the only Democratic candidate in the race who lives in the district and has reported fundraising to date.

Members of Congress are only required by law to live in the state they represent rather than inside their respective districts. However, candidates generally avoid running far from home to avoid charges of carpetbagging.

When the Senate and Assembly put out their proposed Congressional lines last week, Mr. Helmstetter released another statement touting Mr. Alexander's status as the only Democratic candidate in Ms. Hayworth's district and discouraging others from getting in the race "when the lines are drawn." Mr. Becker responded by saying he had already begun looking for a house in the new district. The special master's lines are far more likely to resemble the final product if the legislative lines end up being drawn in court rather than the Legislature. Lawmakers have until March 12 to agree on maps or the matter will be decided in court.

"Our campaign raised nearly $230,000 - four times as much as our nearest competitior, and it’s all thanks to you," Mr. Becker wrote. "Both the Journal News and the Times Herald Record were buzzing about our new front-runner status. I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and dedication that have gotten us this far."

Mr. Becker does appear to be crushing it in the fundraising race. His nearest competitor, Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander has raised $56,000 this year and had only $21,000 in the bank for a primary that could be as early as June. But neither of the newspapers he cites actually call him a front-runner. The Journal-News describes him only as "The Democrat who’s been campaigning longest" while the Times Herald Record describes him only as "a heart-specialist from Cortlandt."

And while his $230,000 is an impressive haul, it is nowhere near that of Ms. Hayworth, who collected $352,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011 and has $1.1 million on hand.

Full email below:

Just giving you a quick update on the campaign. Last week, I spoke to the Peekskill Democratic Committee right here in Westchester. Everyone in the room was buzzing with enthusiasm to support a strong Democratic Candidate to replace Tea Party Republican Nan Hayworth. Our message of focusing government on serving everyone equally, not just the privileged few, continues to resonate with the voters of the 19th Congressional District.

However, the biggest news came out yesterday with the latest FEC filings: our campaign raised nearly $230,000 - four times as much as our nearest competitior, and it’s all thanks to you. Both the Journal News and the Times Herald Record were buzzing about our new front-runner status. I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and dedication that have gotten us this far.

But we’re not done yet! First of all, Nan Hayworth has raised over $200,000 from PACs and special interest groups in an effort to silence your voice. Second, a federal judge ruled last week that our primary must be moved up to June 26th! That means our whole primary process has been moved forward, from petitioning to canvassing. So please, sign up now to volunteer.

The excitement about this campaign is catching on all over the district, and this latest news is really spreading fast. But I know we wouldn't be here without you. With your help, we are taking a stand against obstructionism and favoritism, and I know that if we keep pushing like this, together, we will win on election day.

Thank you for your strength and dedication.

- Richard

While that seems like a hefty haul, it is dwarfed by the money that Ms. Hayworth has raised. Earlier this week Liz reported that she pulled in $319,000 this quarter, and has $890,000 on hand. Plus, Mr. Becker pulled in only $64,000 from donors this quarter, and supplemented his fundraising numbers with $50,000 of his own money.

The campaign notes however that Mr. Becker did far better than John Hall did when he upended an incumbent Republican in 2006. Mr. Hall, they say, did not post six-figure fundraising until the 2nd quarter of 2006.

“When I decided to explore this race, I knew it would require significant fundraising to defeat ‘the Tea Party’s woman in New York’,” said Mr. Becker. “Our successful third quarter sends a clear message that we mean business.”