Upstate battle for Kirsten Gillibrand Congressional seat is too-close-to-call

New York Daily News ^ | Tuesday, March 31st 2009, 10:53 PM | ap wire

[Vigilanteman]

ALBANY — After a short, tense campaign, the two candidates in a New York congressional special election that focused on President Barack Obama's popularity and his economic policy were separated by fewer than 100 votes, and it looked likely the race would be decided by absentee ballots.

With all but one of the 610 voting precincts in the 20th Congressional District reporting, Democrat Scott Murphy led Republican Jim Tedisco by 81 votes out of more than 154,000 cast Tuesday in the race to replace Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. A problem with a machine in Saratoga Springs delayed the final reporting from one precinct.

[Scutter]

We’ll never know who one, but one thing is for certain: the Democrat will be declared the victor in this one. Republicans just can’t compete with the Democrat recount machine.

[Rembrandt]

If the R didn’t win by 20%, consider it a lost cause. The Dims will steal it away.

It is IMPERATIVE that we find a systemic way to kill this capability of the Left or the R’s will never again hold a major office!

[Pacothecat]

Wow I just don’t get this!! A few months ago I read story after story the Republican party was dead forever. Now when the super rock star Messiah is only two months into his presidency and he CAMPAIGNS for a dem in a blue state it is too close to call and everyone here is acting like it’s over. People we have four years to fight and we are already making huge cracks!!!

[BAW]

I am hopeful.

[thewitz2]

Good point, it's a sad state of affairs up there though. I'm from that district and still maintain it as my home of residence but am stationed in Japan. After a conversation with my Mother, who still lives there unfortunately, I am even more depressed with the intimidation tactics used to keep conservatives from effectively voicing their opinions. She has been called racist, had her car keyed, shunned from social groups, etc., for not conforming. I did my part, though. Absentee ballot cast a while back, wonder if they'll count it?

[ZULU]

I think Acorn and the Dems are just doing a great job of getting out the college kiddie votes (those people who never should have been given the vote in the first place - thank you Dickie Nixon), manufacturing bogus votes, registering illegal aliens and otherwise manipulating the system.

In addition, as I KEEP SAYING ON THIS FORUM, the GOP is finished as an opposition party. They are incompetent and lack the courage of their convictions.

Mainstream GOP voters deserve better candidates and a better organization than what these entrenched losers are providing for us.

And finally, last of all, we have the globalist BUSH Factor which is helping these Dems. The Bushes have done so much damage to the GOP, conservatism and America that it will take years for any effective opposition to be positioned to replaced the GOP or effectively defeat these communists in the Democrat Party.

[April Lexington]

And finally, last of all, we have the globalist BUSH Factor which is helping these Dems. The Bushes have done so much damage to the GOP, conservatism and America that it will take years for any effective opposition to be positioned to replaced the GOP or effectively defeat these communists in the Democrat Party.

I think GHWB never got over the shock of losing to Reagan in the 1980 primaries. They went along for the ride and waited him out.

[April Lexington]

as I KEEP SAYING ON THIS FORUM, the GOP is finished as an opposition party.

You are not alone....

[redbloodredstate]

i would be excited if this was a district in san francisco. not a center-right district where we hold a +70,000 voter registration advantage. steele must go.

[Enchante]

That’s what happened to the once great state of New Hampshire, “Live Free or Die” -— so many libs flooded into southern NH to escape Mass., and now they’re busily turning NH into just another Boston suburb.

[1035rep]

“A problem with a machine in Saratoga Springs delayed the final reporting from one precinct.”

Yeah right. Is ACORN on the scene yet? I’m sure they’ll straighten this mess out /sarc

[Red Steel]

Top of the hour radio news said only 65 votes separate the two with the D in the lead with about 6,000 absentee to count.

[antonico]

Yeah. And now that Zerobama moved the Census into Ballerina Boys office, we can be sure there will be no elected Republican’s anywhere ever again.

We’re watching the Republic as we know and love flatline out of existence.

[1035rep]

Wow, nice turn around.

[ZULU]

Before we lost Congress in 2006, I was warning that Bush's incompetence on many issues, especially the Border issue was going to destroy the GOP, America and give the Rats control of the Country.

Before we lost the Presidency, I kept warning about the idiocy of that incompetent boob and how it was threatening us with Obama.

And now, all my predictions have come true.

Between the Bush Klan and that idiot McCain, they have singlehandedly given control of America to the Rats - lock, stock and barrel. The Bushes destroyed America by allowing the Communists in the Democrat to take over. I hope to God Almighty America is saved and we NEVER see another Bush or anyone else who thinks like him running as Republican ever again.

[FreeReign]

steele must go.

I'm no big fan of Steele, but I certainly wouldn't blame the result of this election on him.

Before Steele:

Nov. 2008
(D) Gillibrand 62%
(R) Treadwell 38%

After Steele:

Mar. 2009
(D) Murphy 50%
(R) Tedisco 50%

[fwdude]

All we need is to net at least 60 votes out of the 6,000+ absentees. Quite doable.

Wrong. If a republican leads by 1 or 2 votes, or by 100 or 200 for that matter, the Democrat wins. Haven't you learned anything?

[ZULU]

We need to restructure a new party to replace the GOP as soon as possible.

“Leaders” like bonehead Boehner, Grassley, Hatch, Steele, Bush and McCain have sold us down the river. Sycophantic proskenetic traitors in the party like Snowe, Collins, Crist, Spector, Graham and others have gutted its ability to function as a credible opposition party.

Its got to go. Its really beyond repair.

We are conservative sheep turned over to the communist wolves by our Shepherds.

[Red Steel]

Wow, nice turn around.

The Obama affect after 60 days in office.

[Hush44]

Curious, do we know how much effort steele may have put into this election? Maybe he did behind the scene stuff..but RNC only did one ad...about a month ago.

RNCC carried a lot of water on this...many ads

aside.. wonder who came up with Pat Boone for the last minute calls for Tedisco....while the Dims had Barry/Joe