Posted on 03/30/2010 9:25:07 PM PDT by dangus
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is very popular in New York. Governor David Paterson and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are not... and they're both up for re-election. Conventional wisdom has had it that Cuomo will run for one of their jobs: Paterson's. Amidst unsourced press reports that Cuomo would begin his campaign for governor sometime in March, Paterson even announced he would not be seeking re-election. But now March has come and just about gone, and there's no announcement. Cuomo, in fact, keeps insisting he's running for attorney general. But it's hard to believe the heretofore ruthless politician, suddenly lacks any ambition despite cravenly hoarding massive amounts of campaign cash. Could everyone be looking the wrong direction?
In a state like New York, a statehouse is usually considered a bigger prize than a senate seat; after all a New York senator formally holds no more power than a senator from barren wastelands like South Dakota or Nevada. But 2010 is no ordinary year. The Republicans look likely to defend open seats in Missouri, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire and Kentucky, pick up Nevada, North Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Indiana, and possibly add Wisconsin, California and Washington state. Suddenly, New York looks quite possibly necessary to defend the Democrat majority...
Which brings us to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Elected to the House as a moderate, and appointed to universal surprise to the Senate, where she has lurched hard to the left, Gillibrand is known as a traitor to the center-right, and foxhole convert to the left, trusted by neither. She has raised anemic funds, and trails both former New York City mayor Rudolf Giuliani and former governor George Pataki, neither of whom is actually running, in the polls. Meanwhile, the Republican candidates for governor look particularly weak. By moving to the Senate race, Cuomo could help protect the Democrat rule of the Senate, without necessarily giving up the statehouse.
What's he waiting for? There's no need to shift if Giuliani or Pataki don't run for Senator; Giuliani already indicated he won't. And there's no reason not to wait out the Republicans. Delaying the switch allows Cuomo emphasize the supposed selflessness of the switch, by looking none too eager. Paterson has until August to declare he wants to keep his job, and there are several other well-funded Albany politicians who could step up. Ready for New York's Republicans' worst nightmare? Try Governor Sheldon Silver, already third in line.
I doubt it. Cuomo probably wants to be president, and the statehouse is better for that. Ask Hillary how that seat did for her run.
On the other hand, the next NY governor is going to be dealing with a real mess. Maybe he wants to avoid that and start bloviating with Shumer on Meet the Press every Sunday morning as the junior Senator.
I wish the Repulicans woudl make a real effort. Instead, they recycle losers like Lazio and Democrats like Levy.
Not that Patakifeller is any great shakes.
Patakifeller. Heheheh. I gotta tell ya, I like Lazio or Levy a LOT better than Pataki. Patakifeller is exactly on the money. When are conservatives going to realize that people like Pataki hate them far more than Pataki hates liberals, or even most liberals hate them?
I must admit, I didn’t come up wiht Patakifeller on my own. Phil McConeky, the ex-Giant, originated it.
Maybe they could get him to run.
Is running for office all this guy does?
The only qualification to be a politician is being a piece of scum. No one with credibility will take the job.
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