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Attorney General
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.
Citizens Union Prefers Schneiderman
Aug 24th - 12:25 pm
Citizens Union, a downstate good government advocacy group, issued a statement today in support of Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s AG run, calling him “the best choice in a talented pool of candidates” vying to replace Andrew Cuomo as the state’s top attorney.
CU called the Manhattan lawmaker “an independent reform leader in state government who has the most suitable experience and presents the most compelling vision for how he would serve as attorney general.”
“”Whether challenging legislative leaders to achieve the most significant reforms to empower rank-and-file legislators or bringing together members from both sides of the aisle to ensure all senators exercise ethical conduct that sets a high standard, Eric Schneiderman has been one of those who has led the way in battling the dysfunction that plagues Albany,” said Peter Sherwin, who chairs CU’s Board of Directors.
“He possesses the commitment and conviction to fight public corruption and continue advocating for reform on a larger stage and with the greater authority that comes with the Office of Attorney General.”
Coffey Robos In Rice’s Backyard
Aug 24th - 12:10 pm
Sean Coffey is weighing in on a local battle in the backyard of his AG Democratic primary rival, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice, with a robocall that slams a proposal by Republican County Executive Ed Mangano to combind two North Shore police precincts.
I don’t profess to know anything at all about this particular Long Island issue, and I’m not even going to try to wade into the weeds here. The call does mention Coffey’s support efforts by fellow Democrat, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, to block Mangano’s plan.
However, I do find it interesting that Coffey is inserting himself into a battle taking place at the county level where it just so happens that Rice is the only Democratic countywide elected official who survived the 2009 sweep by the GOP. Clearly, Coffey is making a play for voters in Rice’s base.
You can listen to the robocall here. The script is as follows:
“Hello, this is Sean Coffey, Democratic candidate for New York State Attorney General. I’m running for Attorney General to root our corruption and backroom deals and to get our government working for us again. That’s why it’s so shocking to hear about County Executive Mangano’s plan to combine the North Shore’s Second and Sixth police precincts. ”
“We are in tough times, but we should never balance a budget by risking an increase in crime in our neighborhoods. Newsday called Mangano’s move a bumble and a bombshell. This is Sean Coffey, and I’m calling it a mistake.”
“I urge you to support Supervisor Jon Kaiman’s proposal to not close the precinct and to let the County Executive know that his proposal will put North Shore families at risk. Again, this is Sean Coffey, democratic candidate for Attorney General, and I thank you for your time.”
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.”
Coffey Releases Second TV Ad
Aug 23rd - 11:58 pm
There are five Democrats in the race for attorney general, but only two are officially on the air.
Attorney Sean Coffey is competing for airtime with Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice. He released his second TV ad this morning titled “You.” Rice also has two ads on the air – both of which were released last week.
The narrator is the same one that’s in his first ad, which served more as an introduction to the political neophyte.
This time, Coffey is trying to emphasize his standing “Albany outsider” who can relate to and will stand up for the average New Yorker – not the so-called special interests.
The new Coffey ad will begin airing tomorrow – presumably statewide, though it was not made clear in a letter sent to supporters that included a link to the new spot.
“[The ad is] titled ‘YOU’ because you are the reason I am in this race,” the letter reads.
“It’s your state government that we are trying to help reclaim, your everyday challenges that we are working to address, and your justice system that requires for experienced and independent leadership.”
Sen. Eric Schneiderman also released an ad last week that so far only exists on the web – though his campaign says it will eventually make it to television.
Byron Brown For Schneiderman
Aug 23rd - 1:15 pm
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, who was once on the short list to be Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Andrew Cuomo’s running mate this fall, has announced his support of Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s bid to replace Cuomo in the AG’s office.
“Eric Schneiderman is a true leader who has always fought for what’s right, not just what’s politically popular,” said Brown in a statement released by Schneiderman’s campaign.
“I am proud to support him to be our next Attorney General. We need a smart-on-crime Attorney General who will keep our streets safe and keep our communities whole. We need an Attorney General with the guts, the leadership and the experience to bring equal justice to all New Yorkers. Without question, that person is Eric Schneiderman.”
Erie County Legislature Chair Barbara Miller-Williams also announced her support of Schneiderman, who has been working hard to build support in the Western end of the state.
UPDATE: As a commentor reminds me, Brown and Schneiderman were Senate colleagues before Brown departed to run for mayor in 2005.
This is an interesting turn of events, particularly since it comes on the heels of Schneiderman’s Times endorsement.
Coffey Campaign Pans Times AG Endorsement
Aug 23rd - 10:42 am
Sean Coffey’s campaign manager is rejecting Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s assessment that his Times endorsement is a game-changer in the Democratic AG primary, insisting the Gray Lady’s backing will not carry his opponent to victory on Sept. 14.
In a statement released this morning, Van Parish says Schneiderman is “right to be proud” of winning the Times nod, but suggested the Manhattan lawmaker could have used the clout more constructively than the fundraising e-mail his campaign fired off this morning.
“Sen. Schneiderman could have used the endorsement as a lever of reform to promote nonpartisan redistricting and full disclosure of income and clients for all legislators but instead engaged in the political equivalent of a home run trot,” Parish said.
“This race will be decided on the issues and strength of ideas – not by presumptuous candidates who ignore voters before they’ve even spoken.”
“On September 14th, New Yorkers clamoring for true reform will choose to turn the page on the most dysfunctional and dangerous Albany legislature in modern history. We look forward to a competitive race with Sen. Schneiderman in the coming weeks – and a vigorous exchange on the defining issue in this race: True reform.”
Schneiderman’s campaign blasted out the endorsement just before 10 a.m. that insisted the endorsement “represents a major turning point in the race” and calling for his supporters to contribute more cash so he can match his “well-financed” opponents “minute for minute” on the air.
So far, Schneiderman, Coffey and Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice are the only AG contenders up with TV ads.
The newspaper endorsement tally stands at: Schneiderman, 2 (Amsterdam News, Times), Eric Dinallo, 2 (Crain’s and Daily News), Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Coffey and Rice, 0.
Schneiderman For Rivera Against Espada
Aug 22nd - 3:00 pm
Sen. Eric Schneiderman has split with the Senate leadership and thrown his support behind Gustavo Rivera’s effort to oust Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. in the Democratic primary next month.
“Today, I’m not just endorsing Gustavo Rivera for State Senate – I’m endorsing reform, I’m endorsing leadership, and I’m endorsing integrity,” Schneiderman said in a statement released by his campaign, which, as per usual, describes the candidate as a “lifelong progressive” in a slight to those AG contenders (ahem, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice) whose party affiliations have been fungible.
“For far too long, New Yorkers have lost confidence in their representatives in government. But for the voters of the Bronx, that’s about to change. Gustavo will help restore dignity to the office, bringing fresh, new leadership to Albany. I’m proud to stand with him to support his campaign.”
This is being billed by the Schneiderman campaign as a “cross-endorsement,” with Rivera, who released a statement calling the senator a “true reformer” who will clean up Albany.
But the reality is that the news is on Schneiderman’s side, not the other way around.
Crain’s And DN For Dinallo (Updated)
Aug 22nd - 7:58 am
Eric Dinallo, who has been flying largely under the radar screen in the five-way Democratic AG’s race, is on the upswing this weekend, with two newspaper endorsements and an “atta boy” from the NY Times, to boot.
Both the Daily News and Crain’s New York Business have backed Dinallo, with the latter Eric Dinallo, praising him for remaining “singularly focused on the office, which -having worked there – he knows far better than his rivals” throughout the campaign to replace Andrew Cuomo.
Crain’s is subscription-only, so here’s an excerpt:
“He has developed a reorganizational plan to make it more efficient and productive. At Morgan Stanley and Willis Group Holdings, he implemented lawsuit-prevention practices that he would bring to state agencies.”
“He has shown great deftness in finding legal pathways to attack problems, including a novel way to empower the attorney general to investigate a Legislature that insists on policing itself. His recent testimony before Congress demonstrated a profound understanding of financial services, which he is eminently prepared to police—without the ego and the mean streak that made Mr. Spitzer the industry’s enemy.”
“…(H)is platform is comprehensive, and his qualifications to be attorney general are unmatched. Democratic voters should make Eric Dinallo their nominee.
The editorial also singles out the other political neophyte in the field, Sean Coffey, for praise, calling both newcomers “extraordinarily talented lawyers, which is a prerequisite for the job.” (The structure of this sentence has been changed to address a comment regarding my bad grammar…I will re-read Strunk & White ASAP, stickler).
Schneiderman ‘Interrupted’
Aug 20th - 11:23 am
Democratic AG hopeful Sen. Eric Schneiderman is out with his first TV ad of the election season, which highlights his liberal credentials by noting his efforts on gun control and drug law reform and pledges he’ll support a “color-blind justice system for all New Yorkers” if elected.
“For decades, New Yorkers’ lives have been improved by the hard work and progressive leadership of Eric Schneiderman,” said the Manhattan Democrat’s campaign spokesman James Freedland.
“From his work to get crack dealers out of our neighborhoods, to his leadership as founder of Legislators Against Illegal Guns, to his legislation ending the unfair and discriminatory Rockefeller Drug Laws, Eric has been the progressive champion for justice New York needs as Attorney General.”
This comes on the heels of Schneiderman’s endorsement by The Amsterdam News. He’s now the third AG contender to hit the airwaves, behind Sean Coffey and Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice. (She’s got two ads up, actually, both of which were released this week).
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