Helen Rosenthal. (Photo: Facebook)

Helen Rosenthal, one of the leading Democrats campaigning for an Upper West Side Council district, cut a $1,000 check for former Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani's aborted Senate campaign. But despite the neighborhood's status as a progressive bastion, Ms. Rosenthal's campaign told Politicker she stood by the contribution as a strategic play against a more conservative rival.

"As a Board member of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Helen donated to pro-choice candidates for elected office. In 2000, Giuliani ran against anti-choice Lazio in the primary and Helen donated to the pro-choice candidate who (at that time) was also anti-gun," said Ahmed Tigani, a spokesman for Ms. Rosenthal, in a statement. "Helen has always strongly supported Hillary Clinton and gave the maximum legal donations to both her Senate and Presidential campaigns."

Helen Rosenthal contributed to Mr. Giuliani's exploratory committee in February 2000, several months before he dropped his bid in May. Former Republican Congressman Rick Lazio would eventually replace Mr. Giuliani in the GOP primary and lose to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Ms. Rosenthal, who has worked in several city administrations, including Mr. Giuliani's, did not give any money to Ms. Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign, according to FEC records. Ms. Clinton began laying the groundwork for a Senate race not long after Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement in 1998.

"I couldn't tell you why I didn't donate to Hillary Clinton [in 2000]," Ms. Rosenthal told Politicker in a follow-up interview. "It wasn't because I was fervently for or against anything. It had nothing to do with Clinton or Giuliani. It wasn’t purposeful or meaningful."

"I was a maxed-out person for Clinton for president," she added.

(Her spokesman further noted her contributions to "a broad array of progressive Democrats and organizations, including Congressman Jerry Nadler, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Gabby Giffords and NARAL.")

At the time, the Senate race was advertised as a high-profile battle between Mr. Giuliani and Ms. Clinton. According to reports, Mr. Lazio was "ambivalent" about entering the race and only officially jumped in after Mr. Giuliani dropped out. His entry into the race, according to 2000 reports, was not a surprise to the political establishment, however.

Ms. Rosenthal is facing a number of top-tier Democrats in her City Council race, including district leaders Marc Landis and Debra Cooper, businessman Ken Biberaj, former community board chair Mel Wymore and education activist Noah Gotbaum. The current councilwoman, Gale Brewer, is term-limited.

Chris Christie. (Photo: Getty)

TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie tapped state Attorney General Jeff Chiesa as the New Jersey's next U.S. senator.

"It became clear to me that Attorney General Chiesa was the best decision," Mr. Christie said.

Mr. Christie announced earlier this week that a special election will be held on Oct. 16 following an Aug. 13 primary. Mr. Chiesa is filling the seat left vacant by the death of former Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died Monday.

Mr. Christie said his pick will not be a candidate for the Senate in the upcoming special election. He said he asked Mr. Chiesa after offering the position whether he would run for it later down the road and Mr. Chiesa responded that he wouldn't.

The governor made the decision to call Mr. Chiesa Monday evening.

“I knew this day might come. Senator Lautenberg had been ill. I didn’t just start thinking about this Monday,” Mr. Christie said. “By Monday evening I was pretty certain about what I wanted to do.”

Read more on PolitickerNJ.com.

The casket of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg is carried out of the Park Avenue Synagogue after his funeral. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Friends, family, dozens of senators and other officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, gathered under a Park Avenue synagogue's stained glass dome Wednesday to pay tribute to New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died Monday at the age of 89.

The touching service included many moments of laughter and tears. But the highlight was the eulogy by Mr. Biden, who joked about how Mr. Lautenberg never stopped one-upping him during the 25 years they served together as close friends in the senate.

Mr. Biden, one of the last to speak at the service--which featured remarks from Mr. Lautenberg's various relatives and a musical performance by singer Brian Stokes Mitchell--began by poking gentle fun at the number of speakers

"If there's a definition of redundancy, I'm it!" he told the group, joking that he was there to speak on behalf of the Pope.

Mr. Biden later told the group about how he'd spent years without a home in Washington, D.C. and estimated he'd made 8,000 round-trips back and forth from Delaware, always riding Amtrak. He was frequently in a rush and described having to sprint to Union Station--often missing his train. He rode so many times, he said, that each and every conductor knew him by name. Mr. Biden even invited them over for Christmas dinner and barbecues. "They're still my buddies," he bragged.

But one evening, as Mr. Biden was running to catch his train, the conductor told him to relax. "He said, ‘Hey Joe, don’t worry. You’re OK. We’re holding it up for Lautenberg." Mr. Biden was incredulous. “They never once held it for me!"

"I saved Amtrak three times before he was elected!" Mr. Biden protested, only half-jokingly.

He also made reference to the eulogy he was forced to give to the late Senenator Strom Thurmond, a former segregationist from South Carolina.

"This is a lot easier!" he joked. "Oh boy, I'm about to get myself into trouble!"

Mr. Biden described how, right around Christmastime, Mr. Lautenberg had reached out to him to talk about whether he should run for re-election. He'd retired once before--only to return two years later. But Mr. Lautenberg was worried because he'd begun to grow weak.

"What the hell do you say to Frank Lautenberg?" asked Mr. Biden, who said he replied, "I think you'd win again ... I think even Christie would vote for you!" He pointed to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was in the audience. The crowd laughed and Mr. Christie gave a little wave.

But his remarks also included moments of quiet reflection.

“I realize it’s beyond my capacity to find the words to do justice to Frank Lautenberg," Mr. Biden said, describing Mr. Lautenberg as a man of character. "He always thought in terms of what he could do, what he should do."

Ms. Clinton also spoke. She discussed how Mr. Lautenberg often sat with her in the back of the Senate chamber during votes. "Frank always had something to say," she recalled. "You just couldn't help but have a smile on your face at least one time during the conversation."

"He loved and he was loved," she said. "And after all, that's what makes a great life."

Overall, family and friends described the late senator as an unstoppable presence who never forgot his roots as the son of poor immigrants growing up in Trenton, New Jersey. A fiercely principled fighter, he was "not what you would call warm and fuzzy," said his daughter, Ellen, but deeply loved.

After the service, Mr. Lautenberg’s casket was escorted by Capitol Police to the Secaucus Junction train station, which is named in his honor. From there, his body will travel by train to Washington, D.C. where a ceremony will be held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Thursday, followed by a rare viewing inside the U.S. Senate chamber.

He will be buried Friday in Arlington National Cemetery.

Chris Christie. (Photo: Getty)

Gov. Chris Christie today called for a special election on Oct. 16 to replace U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died Monday at the age of 89.

The October special election means the primary will be held on Aug. 13.

Christie said he decided to opt for the October special election because it’s the quickest way possible to get someone who has been chosen by the people of the state in the seat.

“I want to have an elected senator as soon as possible,” he said. “I think it’s vitally important.”

Under New Jersey statute 19:27-6 Christie has the option of calling for an early special election and doing so has the benefit of keeping the race off the November ballot that features the gubernatorial contest.  However, two statutes govern the succession and their language is conflicting.

"Both statutes provide that if the governor deems it advisable to call a special election they can do so," he said.  "I've deemed it advisable."

Christie dismissed the cost of holding a special election, arguing the benefits of having a New Jersey representative in the U.S. Senate outweigh the cost to the state – which some estimate could reach about $24 million.

“The costs cannot be measured against the value,” he said. “The citizens of New Jersey need to have an elected representative.”

Read more on PolitickerNj.com.

Frank Lautenberg. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Congressman Charlie Rangel reacted to the death of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg Monday, expressing deep sadness at the loss of a long-time friend and the oldest member of the senate, whom he said America "loved so much."

“Oh shit," he said when told about the news of Mr. Lautenberg's death at 89 by a reporter at a press event outside of Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem. "Oh God.”

Mr. Rangel described Mr. Lautenberg as a legend who embodied the spirits of bipartisanship and camaraderie that seem to have disappeared from Capitol Hill.

“Well, he's a dinosaur, or was. Very seldom does a party reach out to someone that's retired to save the party, as he did," he said.

As he got older and after 9/11, Mr. Rangel said he switched from the air shuttle to Amtrak for trips to and from Washington, D.C.,  giving him "a chance to sit and talk with him a lot more than I did earlier."

"He was so full of life, even when his body wasn't responding. He loved this country so much and he loved Jersey more, if that was possible," he said.

He said that Mr. Lautenberg didn't reach out to the press as frequently as other politicians, "But for those who've had the real pleasure working with him, he made it possible for Republicans and Democrats to work together for a common cause for our country. And, unfortunately, we have lost most of that camaraderie in the last decade."

"My deepest sympathy to his constituents, to America and to his family, who loved him so much," he said.

(Photo: Getty)

The U.S. Senate voted down a bipartisan deal to expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales today, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't happy.

“Today’s vote is a damning indictment of the stranglehold that special interests have on Washington," Mr. Bloomberg declared in a statement condemning both parties for their inaction. "Democrats – who are so quick to blame Republicans for our broken gun laws – could not stand united. And Republicans – who are so quick to blame Democrats for not being tough enough on crime – handed criminals a huge victory, by preserving their ability to buy guns illegally at gun shows and online and keeping the illegal trafficking market well-fed."

Mr. Bloomberg, who has become a national spokesman of sorts for gun control in the aftermath of last year's infamous Connecticut elementary school massacre, further suggested that he'd continue to put millions of dollars into affecting future congressional elections on the basis of this issue.

"But even with some bi-partisan support, a common-sense public safety reform died in the U.S. Senate at the hands of those who are more interested in attempting to protect their own political careers – or some false sense of ideological purity – than protecting the lives of innocent Americans," he continued. "The only silver lining is that we now know who refuses to stand with the 90 percent of Americans – and in 2014, our ever-expanding coalition of supporters will work to make sure that voters don’t forget.”

Update (5:58 p.m.): Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who rose to some national prominence for his tough gun control measures passed earlier this year, also weighed in:

"The Senate’s failure to pass a bipartisan measure that is supported by the vast majority of American people is a sad statement on the power of extremists to stand in the way of reason and common sense. Background checks for firearm sales is a reasonable measure that would help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and help keep Americans safe from gun violence. In the wake of the seemingly unending cycle of tragedy involving gun violence, the Senate’s inability to pass even a watered down, minimal gun safety bill is simply unacceptable."

Mayor Bloomberg. (Photo: Getty)

Although gun control advocates--including the New York Daily News editorial board--have sharply criticized the U.S. Senate for moving forward with gun legislation that mostly just focuses on expanding background checks, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is just fine with it.

"I think this is not perfect but it takes you 90 percent of the way--maybe 95 percent of the way--towards more rational gun laws," Mr. Bloomberg said during his weekly WOR radio show this morning. "And the public is overwhelmingly in favor of background checks. A couple of the editorial boards thinks it's not enough, but the public does and I do."

Mr. Bloomberg, who has become a national spokesman of sorts in the wake of last year's infamous shooting spree at a Connecticut elementary school, went on to agree with advocates that a federal assault weapons ban would ideal, but said it's simply not a political reality.

"It would be great if we could get rid of assault weapons, but that's just not going to happen at the moment," he continued. "So let's do this. And I don't know if you want to have a victory lap, but those senators and House members--when we get to that, if we get to that--that voted for this should have a big smile on their face. They did something to save your life and your kids' lives and make this country a lot better."

Or, as Mr. Bloomberg argued while discussing another missing aspect--microstamping ammunition with identifying characteristics--in New York State's recently-passed gun law, "If you wait for the perfect thing, you'll never do anything."

“This successful sting operation is sure to be a buzz kill for would-be honey smugglers," Mr. Schumer said. "For too long, foreign smuggling of this product has created a sticky situation for domestic honey producers. We need a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to honey laundering."

Mr. Schumer previously called for officials to do more to combat Chinese honey smuggling in 2010. This bust clearly felt like a sweet victory that left the senator with a pleasant buzz.

(Photo: YouTube)

American Crossroads, the Karl Rove-backed "super PAC" that invested millions of dollars in last year's elections, has a new target--actress Ashley Judd.

Ms. Judd is reportedly considering a run against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, but American Crossroads might prefer if the actress never moved forward with her campaign. Accordingly, the group released a YouTube ad unloading a barrage of hits against Ms. Judd and arguing that she's "an Obama-following, radical, Hollywood liberal" who's out of step with Kentucky's conservative politics.

"I am committed to President Obama and Vice President Biden," Ms. Judd enthusiastically says at the video's start, for example. "I think he's a brilliant man. He's now able to flower more as the president I knew he could be."

Overall, the spot functions as a sarcastic, mock campaign ad for Ms. Judd's hypothetical campaign while going through the clips Mr. McConnell could use in his own ads against her if need be. In it, she is quoted referring to "hillbillies who golf," calls herself a "radical," and--to the narrator's great amusement--labels Tennessee, where Ms. Judd has maintained a residence for many years, as "home."

"Her own grandmother says she's a Hollywood liberal, but isn't that what we need?" the narrator adds. "Ashley Judd: an Obama-following, radical Hollywood liberal who's right at home here in Tennessee--I mean Kentucky."

Watch below:

Chuck Schumer speaking at the Inauguration. (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Long Island chef Butch Yamali is telling Senator Chuck Schumer to go duck himself after the Inauguration.

Senator Schumer was able to put his own New York-centric spin on today's festivities in his capacity as chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. However, Mr. Yamali doesn't feel Mr. Schumer went far enough to honor his home state and is holding a press conference tomorrow to "formally rebuke" the senator for not having Long Island duck at the inaugural meal at the Capitol Building.  

A statement announcing the press conference, which will take place tomorrow afternoon, noted Long Island's deep connection to duck.

"Long Island is known throughout the world for its duck–and even has a minor league baseball team called 'The Ducks,'" the statement said.

In addition to featuring the chorus from Staten Island's P.S. 22 and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir at the swearing in ceremony, Mr. Schumer stocked the menu at the inaugural lunch with items from the Empire State including water from Saratoga Springs Water Company, two New York wines and a Hudson Valley apple pie. Mr. Schumer also wanted to serve Long Island duck, but he said the dish was not up to snuff.

"The duck was very good, but the preparation wasn’t great. We settled on South Dakota bison," Mr. Schumer told the New York Times. "When New York gets good bison, we’ll have that."

Mr. Yamali clearly doesn't think Mr. Schumer should get to duck his responsibility to Long Island so easily. The statement announcing his press conference tomorrow said he was "angered" by the "inaugural insult" and plans to "speak out" against the senator giving Long Island "the bird."

"Of all the things to be left off Chuck Schumer’s New York-inspired Inauguration menu, he should not have removed the duck," the statement said.

This isn't the first time Mr. Yamali has brought a culinary perspective to political issues. Back in August, he appeared on Fox Business to discuss President Barack Obama's infamous "you didn't build that" remark as the owner of a small catering company.

Politicker reached out to Mr. Schumer's office to see if they had any response to Mr. Yamali's duck-fueled rage. As of this writing, we have not received a response.