By Hunter Walker 12/18/12 3:00pm

Garden State

Cory Booker (Photo: YouTube)

Cory Booker Is Keeping His Options Open Online

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is now considering a 2014 run for the Senate seat currently occupied by 88-year-old Frank Lautenberg after mounting speculation he would challenge incumbent New Jersey Governor Chris Christie next year. On the internet, a close advisor to Mr. Booker has prepped for both a gubernatorial campaign and Senate bid. Records show Mr. Booker’s fundraising advisor and former City Hall staffer Bari Mattes has purchased the web domains for both “BookerForSenate” and BookerForGovernor.

Update (3:48 p.m.): Ms. Mattes has also registered “CoryBookerForPresident.com.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/17/12 11:12am

Religion

Tim Scott (Photo: TimScott.House.gov)

South Carolina’s New Senator Has a ‘Team’ of Prayer ‘Warriors’ on His Side

South Carolina Congressman Tim Scott, who has reportedly been chosen to replace Jim DeMint as that state’s senator by Governor Nikki Haley, has had a heavenly helping hand during his time in Washington. A volunteer named Tim Taylor has led a  group of “prayer team warriors” who have organized on Mr. Scott’s campaign website and prayed for God to give the congressman guidance and protection. Mr. Taylor told Politicker the team has been praying for Mr. Scott, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, throughout his career.

“The prayer team has been active for many years now and we’ve prayed for Tim consistently,” said Mr. Taylor. “I’m just committed to it. I’ve known Tim for a long time and, you know, I’ve just felt led to pray for him.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/13/12 2:54pm

Opposition Research

Nikki Haley

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Vets Stephen Colbert for Senate Seat

Comedian Stephen Colbert has made a tongue-in-cheek push for South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to appoint  him as the Palmetto State’s senator now that Jim DeMint is leaving the job to work at the Heritage Foundation. This afternoon, Ms. Haley responded to The Colbert Report host’s campaigning and high poll numbers by releasing her findings from “vetting” Mr. Colbert.

“Mr. Colbert, clearly a whole lot of people felt you needed a second look for U.S. Senate, and because I believe in doing my full due diligence … this is what our vetting process came back with,” Ms. Haley wrote in a post on Facebook that included a link to a document containing information about Mr. Colbert.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/10/12 1:06pm

Colbert Report

Stephen Colbert (Photo: Getty)

Poll: South Carolina Voters Want Stephen Colbert to Be Their Senator

A new poll indicates South Carolina voters want Governor Nikki Haley to make comedian Stephen Colbert their senator now that Jim DeMint is leaving Capitol Hill to become president of the Heritage Foundation. The survey, from the liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling, found 20 percent of South Carolinians want Mr. Colbert, who is a grew up in the Palmetto State, to get the job. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/04/12 9:27am

Field Trips

Governor Andrew Cuomo speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill yesterday. (Photo: Getty)

Cuomo’s Day in DC: ‘The Governor Hit the Trifecta’

Governor Andrew Cuomo spent the day in Washington yesterday lobbying for the approximately $40 billion in federal aid he is asking for to help the state recover from Hurricane Sandy. Politicker spoke with sources familiar with the governor’s schedule to get details on how he spent his time and who he met with on his first trip to Washington since taking office.

“The governor hit the trifecta; the White House, the Majority Leader and the speaker,”  an administration official said. Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/15/12 3:15pm

challenges

(Photo: Facebook)

Lew Fidler Unloads Further on Simcha Felder

Tells us how you really feel, Councilman Lew Fidler.

Mr. Fidler, who yesterday criticized Senator-elect Simcha Felder for vowing to cross party lines and caucus with the Republicans, took another pass this afternoon in a lengthy statement where he demanded Mr. Felder himself answer questions about the decision.

“Simcha is correct that the parties are not a religion, nor should they be,” Mr. Fidler wrote. “But being open and honest with the voters should be.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/05/12 2:35pm

Strongly Worded Letters

Rabbi Leiter. (Photo: VosIznNeias.com)

Governor Cuomo Reprimands Rabbi Who Suggested Gay Marriage Caused Hurricane Sandy

A few days ago, Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency said Hurricane Sandy brought a “divine justice” upon New York State as retribution for legalizing same sex marriage. To prove his point Rabbi Leiter pointed to the storm damage in Lower Manhattan, which he referred to as “one of the national centers for homosexuality,” to make his point. In a statement released this afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo, who led the push for New York’s gay marriage legislation last year, took issue with the remark.

“The comments made by Rabbi Noson Leiter that sought to link the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy to our state’s embrace of marriage equality are as offensive as they are ignorant,” Mr. Cuomo said. “This catastrophic storm claimed the lives of more than forty New Yorkers. This kind of hateful rhetoric has no place in our public discourse, and is particularly distasteful in times of tragedy.” Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 9/28/12 12:03pm

Accessories

marie claire

Marie Claire Peeks Into Candidates’ Purses, Finds iPads and a Gun

In advance of the upcoming elections, the women’s magazine Marie Claire got a look inside the purses of several prominent female candidates for their “Running in Heels” feature. Based on their findings, iPads and other Apple gear are must-have accessories on the campaign trail, but a few of the women in the article apparently tote less standard fare including one candidate with a heavy energy drink habit and another who’s packing heat. Read More