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Txting The Vote In The 58th SD
Aug 31st - 9:35 am
Democratic state Senate candidate Tim Kennedy has launched his first campaign ad – an unusual spot that includes not a single spoken word.
Instead, the ad features a close-up of a hand-held device with the pro-Kennedy “script” delivered entirely via text message. The point is to highlight Kennedy’s push to make texting-while driving ban a primary offense in Erie County as a local legislator.
(A statewide law made it a secondary offense, which means law enforcement officials can only penalize drivers for it if they’re first pulled over for something else).
Kennedy unveiled the ad along with Kelly Cline, whose son, A.J. Larson, was texting when he was killed in a car accident in 2007. Cline has since become an outspoken advocate against so-called “distracted” driving.
“We’re hoping that our television commercial will spark further conversation about the dangers of texting while driving,” Kennedy said in a press release. “My campaign ad is much different than the others out there.”
Kennedy is one of three Democrats trying to knock Sen. Bill Stachowski from his perch in the upcoming Sept. 14 primary. All four candidates are scheduled to square off in a YNN debate this afternoon. We’ll be bringing you highlights of that later. Stay tuned.
Liedka On Russo: ‘He Doesn’t Vote; He Doesn’t Care’ (Updated)
Aug 31st - 9:11 am
Things are heating up in the 49th SD GOP primary, with East Syracuse Mayor Danny Liedka slamming his opponent, Andrew Russo, for his spotty voting record in a new YouTube video.
The Syracuse Post-Standard reported last December that Russo didn’t vote in any races between Nov. 5, 2001 – when he registered to vote – through 2008.
(As an aside: Is it something in the water in NY? What is it with all these candidates failing to vote?)
Russo, a concert pianist, said he had been out of the country for much of that time period. He said he had voted in 2006 by affidavit because he had moved to a new address, but there was no record of that at the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
Liedka said he had been hoping to run a positive campaign but feels the need to respond to “anonymous phone calls, the push-polling, the half-truths and the thinly-veiled threats directed at my supporters,” adding: “I’m nobody’s punching bag.”
He cast Russo, who has the support of local and Albany Republicans and has out-fundraised his opponent, as “the anointed candidate of the back-room bosses” who run the SRCC and accepted two turncoat Democrats – ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate and Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. – into their ranks during the ’09 Senate coup.
Whoever wins the GOP primary in two weeks will go on to face Democratic Sen. Dave Valesky (who is already on the airwaves with his own campaign ad) in the November general. Here’s the Liedka video script:
“Andrew Russo registered to vote for nine years, but he never bothered to vote until 2009 – after he decided he should be our next senator. He said he was living mostly overseas. Well, Andrew, a lot of Americans spend time living overseas in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. They’re not playing the piano, they’re fighting for our freedom. But they make sure they vote. It’s called an absentee ballot, Andrew, and all you have to do is ask for one. Wherever you are. Andrew Russo. He doesn’t vote. He doesn’t care. On primary day, Sept. 14th, Danny Liedka, Republican for state senator.”
UPDATE:
Russo’s campaign just sent this response from the candidate.
“It’s sad and unfortunate that Dan Liedka has once again decided to go back on his word and take his dead-end Senate campaign in a negative direction, rather than talk about the need to win back this seat from the New York City Democrats,” Russo said.
“Mayor Liedka has no money and no message, so it’s not surprising that he would stoop to this level. While I am doing everything possible to ensure a resounding victory on September 14, my focus remains on defeating tax-and-spend Albany incumbent David Valesky in November.”
Cox Trips Out On Altschuler
Aug 30th - 6:17 pm
Here’s the latest attack launched by NY-1 hopeful Chris Cox on one of his two GOP primary opponents, Randy Altschuler, in the form of an ad that reiterates all of the self-funding businessman’s negatives: He outourced jobs, he used to be a Green Party member, there’s a big gap in his voting history.
The ad will appear on News12 Long Island, FOX News, CNN, TNT, and The Discovery Channel, according to the Cox campaign.
Most of the mudslinging as the primary draws ever closer has been between Altschuler and Cox, which leads me to believe someone out there has some polling data that shows George Demos trailing. Also, recall that Altschuler has the much-coveted Conservative Party line, while Cox is trying to lay claim to the conservative mantle.
Doheny On The Attack
Aug 30th - 4:58 pm
Things are getting ugly in the North Country, where GOP congressional candidate Mott Doheny is out with an attack ad that accuses his primary opponent, Doug Hoffman, of profiting from his campaign in NY-23.
Reporters (at least those outside the district) were alerted to the existence of the ad by the Hoffman campaign, which sent out a press release slamming the spot and calling it a “a desperate attempt by Matt Doheny to save his floundering campaign.”
Hoffman campaign spokesman Rob Ryan called on Dohney to apologize for “hurling mud” and take down the ad.
Dohney Attack Ad from Liz Benjamin on Vimeo.
Maffei Distances Himself From DC
Aug 27th - 10:00 am
Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei (NY-25) hit the airwaves this week with his first TV ads of the campaign – one that’s fairly standard and focuses on jobs and another, more interesting, spot in which the incumbent congressman seeks to establish himself as a hometown guy and NOT a Washington insider.
This sort of disassociation from the powers-that-be on Capitol Hill is fast becoming a trend as the midterm elections approach and voter disgust with the status quo reaches new heights. One Indiana Democratic congressman has even taken the unusual step of running against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Maffei isn’t going that far, but he’s clearly trying to distinguish himself as something other than your typical Washington insider.
Maffei, a former aide to Rep. Charlie Rangel who was first elected in 2008 (his second attempt at the seat), is being challenged by Republican newcomer Ann Marie Buerkle, who has been endorsed by Sarah Palin. (Incidentally, the Indiana congressman, Joe Donnelly, is backed by Palin, too).
The ad script appears after the jump.
Air Allegretti: ‘He’s A Paisan’
Aug 26th - 1:44 pm
NY-13 Republican congressional hopeful Michael Allegretti is playing up his Italian heritage in his latest TV spot, entitled “We Like Mike” and featuring a man who says (in heavily accented New York-ese: “He’s a paisan. He’s one of us.”
The Italian cred is huge in this district, although the current representative – Democrat Mike McMahon – is Irish. His predecessor was Republican Vito Fossella.
The spot, produced by Jamestown Associates, is the Allegretti’s third of the GOP primary campaign in which he’s facing off against Michael Grimm. The ad takes some shots at Grimm, saying he “just moved here” and “faked his resume.”
McCall, Dinkins, Thompson Cut Ad For Schneiderman
Aug 25th - 2:35 pm
As he continues to try to position himself as the go-to candidate for minority voters in an all-white field of AG contenders, Sen. Eric Schneiderman is preparing to roll out a new TV ad featuring some of the state’s highest profile former African American elected officials.
A source familiar with the spot said it will feature former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, former NYC Mayor David Dinkins and former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson, among others.
Both Dinkins and Thompson have formally endorsed Schneiderman to succeed Andrew Cuomo as the state’s top attorney. McCall so far has not publicly declared a favorite among the five Democratic AG contenders.
According to this source, McCall was shooting the ad as recently as today.
This ad, which will undoubtedly be released soon, will be the third released by the Manhattan senator’s campaign. (The first has yet to hit the airwaves. The second highlighted Schneiderman’s Times endorsement).
It’s the culmination of a steady roll-out by Schneiderman’s campaign of African American validators, including Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and (reportedly later this afternoon), the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Sharpton will likely be featured in pre-primary literature for Schneiderman, I’m told.
New Ad, New Issue, New Website
Aug 25th - 1:47 pm
Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Andrew Cuomo has launched another issue ad – along with an accompanying Website – much like he did with ethics reform and property taxes.
This time, Cuomo touts his record of crusading against pension fraud and abuse.
Of course, this is something of a sore subject for one of Cuomo’s fellow statewide Democratic contenders, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
As you’ll recall, the AG has declined to endorse DiNapoli in his first bid to retain the office to which he was elevated in 2007 by his former legislative colleagues after Chauffeurgate felled Alan Hevei.
At one point, Cuomo was reportedly hoping someone – perhaps ex-NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson – would primary DiNapoli (and bring some much-needed balance to the Democrats’ ticket this year), but that never materialized.
In addition, Cuomo said back in April that his pay-to-play pension fund probe had extended to include a meeting that took place on DiNapoli’s watch.
The AG’s proposal to reform the comptroller’s office includes doing away with the sole trusteeship of the fund and replacing it with an oversight board – a plan of which DiNapoli, naturally, isn’t a big fan, (nor is his GOP/Conservative opponent Harry Wilson, for the record).
Did He Mention His Times Endorsement?
Aug 24th - 10:53 am
Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s latest TV ad focuses, unsurprisingly, on his recent Times endorsement, flashing the Gray Lady’s name no fewer than three times in 30 seconds.
There’s also a Daily News mention, in the context of gun control, even though the tab has backed Eric Dinallo for AG. (Schneiderman doesn’t claim the tabloid’s support; he also doesn’t mention his other editorial nod from The Amsterdam News).
Schneiderman released his first ad, “Interrupted“, last week. But his campaign admitted to me yesterday that it hasn’t yet gone up on the air and it’s unclear whether it ever will. It exists solely on-line at the moment. The new Times-heavy spot went up this morning and is only running downstate (where the bulk of the primary vote is generated).
Schneiderman’s ad comes as Sean Coffey has released his second ad of the campaign. (Recall that he re-released his first bio spot to compete with Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice when she first went on the air).
Here’s the script of Schneiderman’s new spot, called “Equal Justice” and clearly geared toward minority voters, is as follows:
“For Democrat Eric Schneiderman, it’s about more than talking tough on crime. It’s about seeking justice – even when it’s unpopular. That’s why Schneiderman reformed the Rockefeller Drug Laws that unfairly put non-violent offenders in jail for decades.”
“He fought for treatment and a second chance. Schneiderman passed the assault weapons ban and helped evict drug dealers who are holding our neighborhoods hostage. Democrat Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General. Equal justice for all New Yorkers. Endorsed by the New York Times.”
Demos Tries To Out-Conservative The Competition
Aug 23rd - 7:42 am
The fight for the right continues in NY-1 with one of the three Republican congressional contenders, George Demos, releasing a new ad that proclaims him the lone conservative in the primary field.
The release makes no mention of where the ad is running, when it will go on the air or (as is standard) how big of a buy this is. In the meantime, here’s the script:
“(Voiceover): One Candidate for Congress is pro-life: George Demos. The other candidates – Chris Cox and Randy Altschuler – are pro-choice. Chris Cox, country club Republican who never voted in the district. Randy Altschuler, made millions outsourcing American jobs to India. In Suffolk County there’s only one Conservative candidate. George Demos, the pro-life, Conservative prosecutor. He’s one of us.”
As proof of his claim about Altschuler’s position on abortion rights, Demos is relying on a story pushed by Cox’s campaign in which a former New Jersey GOP chairwoman claims the Long Island businessman told her he was pro-choice when he sought to run for congress in the Garden State a number of years ago.
Altschuler’s campaign and his Conservative Party backers, who awarded him their ballot line, rejected that story.
As for Cox, Demos’ campaign points to contributions the candidate made to pro-choice Republicans like Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava.
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