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Archive for October, 2010
Trail Mix
Oct 29th - 9:00 pm
So at this point in the campaign, candidates have been hitting the trail pretty much non-stop. They’re malnourished, dehydrated…and definitely short on sleep. And that combination can be toxic when it comes to public speaking. It inevitably leads to moments that make you scratch your head and think: “what did that person just say”?
Since this is the 21st century, many of those moment are caught on camera. So lucky for us, this week we have the most cringe-worthy video of the season, Matt Damon makes a return to New York Politics…
But we’ll begin with our favorite figure from the Hudson Valley: Assemblyman Greg Ball.
Here’s the season’s final “Trail Mix” (Barring recounts and court battles):
WFP Receives White Powder Letter (Updated)
Oct 29th - 6:05 pm
The Working Families Party, which has been the target of some animosity from the right this campaign season, called the NYPD after receiving a suspicious letter containing some so-far unidentified white powder late this afternoon, a source close to the labor-backed party confirmed.
The letter arrived at the WFP’s HQ on Nevins Street in Brooklyn and was opened by a WFP employee. The party’s offices were not evacuated, but the police did respond to the scene.
“We’re trying not to get too distracted and we’re taking our instructions (from the police),” the source said. “We’ve got an election to win.”
UPDATE: WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor called with an update. He said the the party’s offices have been evacuated and the place is crawling with emergency services personel, cops and firefighters.
Actually, he said, the entire street was shut down and the handful of people who came into contact with the powder – including WFP political director Bill Lipton – had to be decontaminated.
Cantor called this an “unfriendly attack” and a “dirty trick.”
“Even the cops said: Is someone trying to disrupt you? We had no idea. But this is fairly standard,” Cantor told me. “In the meantime, we’re very focused. Hopefully, it’s only tonight.”
The WFP had a training session planned for tonight with some 70 people expected to attend. Party officials didn’t let this powder indicident stop them from holding the event, moving it to a nearby Korean deli.
I’m told they managed to save the campaign lit, too.
Anti-Breslin Robo
Oct 29th - 5:59 pm
The anti-Breslin forces wasted no time in capitalizing on today’s TU report that the senator admitted to drinking the night he was pulled over by the State Police and given a field sobriety test (which he passed).
A reader who lives in the suburbs of Albany wrote in to say he had received a robocall from an anonymous woman that referenced the Oct. 19 incident. (A commentor said she got it, too). I don’t have a recording, but here’s the script:
“As a mother of three children I have worked tirelessly to rid our roads of drunk drivers. Last week Senator Breslin was pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. He later released a statement saying he was not drinking and had passed a field sobriety test.”
“Now, as reported by the Albany Times Union today he has admitted to having drank wine at a number of political events. Senator Breslin has repeatedly refused to answer any questions about what happened that night and has now publicly lied about the incident.”
“On Election Day let’s show Senator Breslin that we are tired of politics as usual.”
Extras
Oct 29th - 5:54 pm
A highly unscientific Rochester Business Journal “snap poll” shows Andrew Cuomo leading Carl Paladino, 45-42.
Jimmy Vielkind analyzes all $33 million of Cuomo’s campaign cash (with some help from NYPIRG’s Bill Mahoney).
GOP congressional candidate Fran Becker says he is “damn sure” going to vote for Carl Paladino. (Rep. Carolyn McCarthy’s campaign is trying to make the most of that).
Another GOP congressional hopeful, Michael Grimm, got into a verbal tussle with a volunteer for Rep. Michael McMahon.
Rudy Giuliani said it was “cheap” for McMahon to invite Grimm’s ex-wife to a debate and put her in the front row.
Giuliani said it would be a “great honor” for him if his portrait reminds people of Gerald Ford.
Harry Wilson touts his many newspaper endorsements in a new radio ad.
The Staten Island Advance endorsed Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Paladino doesn’t care if he offended Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand by calling her Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “little girl.”
Rep. Nita Lowey was offended, too.
Mayor Bloomberg’s speechwriters are up on their pop culture.
Joe DioGuardi’s spokesman declined to comment on the “little girl” comment.
Cuomo’s tax return is still AWOL.
The state Democratic Party slammed GOP Senate candidate Lee Zeldin for having “extremist friends.”
Gay voters have been galvanized by Paladino’s anti-gay statements.
The NYT’s David Chen handed out awards for the best political ads.
Back to the future with Cuomo’s inner circle.
And you thought the 2010 campaign was nasty. It’s got nothing on the election of 1800.
Good vs. Evil
Oct 29th - 5:02 pm
Here’s Sen. Brian Foley’s latest radio ad, which features sound from Democratic frontrunner Andrew Cuomo’s endorsement of him at the beginning of the month. (The Long Island freshman was the first Senate candidate to receive the AG’s seal of approval).
The ad casts Cuomo and Foley as the forces for “good” (ie: a pro-Main Street team that’s going to “clean up Albany”) versus the “evil” forces of Foley’s Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, and Wall Street.
The key line: “This isn’t about Democrats and Republicans; this is about right and wrong.”
Happy Paladino Halloween
Oct 29th - 4:35 pm
Carl Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo sent a photo of the trick-or-treat bags being distributed by the Buffal businessman along with the message: “Just in time for Election Day! Err… Halloween.”
When your campaign colors are black and orange, what choice do you have but to embrace the holiday?
Caputo told Newsday that the candidate will be following a family tradition this weekend which requires him to don a surprise costume selected by his daughter, “no questions asked.”
No word on what Duke’s costume will be. Something tells me whatever it is won’t be nearly as elaborate as this.
Gothamist had some fun not long ago advising readers how to dress up like Paladino, an ensemble that “can easily become an Emperor Palpatine costume if you find yourself in possession of a cape instead of a suit.”
Breslin Responds
Oct 29th - 4:24 pm
Sen. Neil Breslin’s campaign spokesman Daniel Hornick released the following statement:
“Bob Domenici and Senate Republican attack mutts continue to push ridiculous, baseless rumors. Voters are sick of this kind of nonsense.
Senator Neil Breslin is on the record with the facts:
- He drank a couple of glasses of wine;
- He was administered a field sobriety test;
- He was not arrested or cited;
- He drove home;
- He has no say in law enforcement procedures regarding records.
Obviously, Domenici’s campaign is in a tailspin, realizing they cannot win on the issues. Instead, he is resorting to the desperate, mudslinging tactics right out of Roger Stone’s playbook.
What next…threatening prank calls to Neil’s family?”
I believe that prank calls line is in reference to Stone’s expletive-laden call to then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s infirm father, which led the Senate Republicans to fire the GOP consultant.
But what Stone has to do with this situation, I have no idea. He’s not involved in Domenici’s campaign, or the SRCC, as far as I know. I think he has his hands full with the Manhattan Madam and Carl Paladin.
Hinchey ‘Can’t Remember’ His ‘Shut Up’ Moment
Oct 29th - 3:43 pm
Rep. Maurice Hinchey said yesterday he can’t recall the moment he told a Kingston Freeman reporter to “shut up,” earning the veteran Democratic congressman widespread criticism both inside the 22nd CD and beyond.
Hinchey laughed off the incident, saying: “I don’t remember that I told him to shut up.” He also called the dust-up “a simply thing…one of those, you know, ridiculous instances.”
“Ridiculous” is one of the congressman’s favorite words. He used it no fewer than five times during a three-minute interview one week after his verbal altercation with the reporter, William Kemble. During that same interview, Hinchey declared: “I didn’t tell him to shut up.”
For the record, the congressman insisted he was “absolutely” interested in rescheduling the pre-election CapTon interview he called off in the wake of shutupgate, but hasn’t yet managed to squeeze us in.
Below you’ll find footage of Hinchey’s interview this week and also his pre-debate “shut up” moment. Just to refresh your memory. (And his).
Dinkins For ‘Ethical’ DiNapoli, Goldin For ‘Right Man’ Wilson
Oct 29th - 3:22 pm
David Dinkins, who was NYC’s first black mayor, is out today with an endorsement of fellow Democrat, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; while Democratic former NYC Comptroller Harrison “Jay” Goldin crossed party lines to endorse Republican Harry Wilson for the job.
The Dinkins endorsement came via a Web video, in which the former mayor sayd: “There are politicians and then there are public servants. Tom DiNapoli is a public servant, and one of whom we can ALL be proud.”
Goldin’s endorsement of Wilson came via press release in which he said the former hedge fund manager’s plan to reform the comptroller’s office “demonstrates the right combination of ambition, attention to detail and realism to save New York State from a serious fiscal crisis,.”
Goldin was one of three former comptrollers (the others were DiNapoli’s predecessors, H. Carl McCall and Ned Regan) who sat on a panel charged with selecting a replacement for disgraced former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi back in 2007.
They recommended three candidates, none of whom were state lawmakers, and, thanks largely to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the Legislature went with its own pick – DiNapoli – angering then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer to no end.
Domenici To Breslin: ‘Come Out Of The Dark’
Oct 29th - 2:48 pm
Republican state Senate candidate Bob Domenici called on his Democratic opponent, Sen. Neil Breslin, to authorize the State Police to release any information related to his traffic stop and field sobriety test and even suggested all interactions with troopers should be made public – even if they don’t result in charges.
“That might not be a bad idea so we don’t have confusion in the future,” Domenici said earlier today at a press conference called by his campaign following the TU’s report this morning that the senator admitted he had been drinking the night he was pulled over – a direct contradiction of a Senate spokesman’s account of the Oct. 19 incident.
Breslin has gone underground since speaking Wednesday night about his brush with the law. He did not show up at any of the public events he was scheduled to attend today. That left the media cycle to Domenici, who dutifully did his best to keep the story alive.
“We’re in the dark,” Domenici told reporters. “We don’t know, and he won’t say, and nor will anyone else say. We need to come out of the dark. Maybe Neil Breslin needs to be here answering the question. What really happened?”
“This goes to the heart of why people don’t trust our government, because technically he was the one in the car here, and technically he needs to come forward and say exactly what happened. Neil Breslin is the one here in question. His integrity is in question.”
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