NY-Sen: 52 County Democratic Chairs Endorse Gillibrand For Senate

Hot damn. (4.00 / 2)

That's one hell of a coup. Including, I'll note, a couple of people (naming no names) who were previously attempting to stay majestically neutral in the Senate primary. I guess Maloney doesn't interest them as much as Steve Israel did.  

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by: Adama @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:11:11 AM CDT

Look where those 10 counties are (0.00 / 0)

Half of the state's population is in those 10 counties.  Looks like there's plenty of support still up for grabs.

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by: CuseDem09 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 17:15:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fulton Co? (0.00 / 0)

Perhaps I don't understand the demographics, but I wonder why Fulton County hasn't endorsed her... isn't that near her original district?

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by: NYCO @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:55:15 AM CDT

ps (0.00 / 0)

If you asked me to name all 62 counties, Fulton is the one I would most likely miss.  :-)  So I plead ignorance.

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by: NYCO @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:56:01 AM CDT

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Fulton is mostly in the NY-23rd. The rest is in the 21st. (0.00 / 0)

Beyond that, I don't know why they didn't endorse. Maybe the county chair just doesn't like her for some reason.  

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by: Adama @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:08:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Can you provide a link for this slate of endorsements? (0.00 / 0)

Were they all announced simultaneously?

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by: GallatinDan @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:09:27 AM CDT

Not all of them. (0.00 / 0)

For instance, I know Len Lenihan of Erie County had endorsed Gillibrand prior to today. However, I think the large majority are new.  

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by: Adama @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:23:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The link... (0.00 / 0)

Is right here... in this post.

I received all of them via a press release. I'm sure they will add it to the endorsements page on their website, which I also link to in my piece.

Support our troops, not the war.

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:24:08 AM CDT

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I'm very pleased that Tompkins (0.00 / 0)

stayed out of this effort to ensure that there isn't a primary.

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:09:35 AM CDT

I'm sure that's why Tompkins stayed out of it... (4.00 / 2)

Or perhaps they want to get to know her more?

By the way, there will be a primary. Jonathan Tasini is running and Maloney has all but announced her candidacy. Like it or not, Tasini will get some votes. Maloney will be more of a challenger, but a three-way primary is a big deal. So I don't know why you are still harping on this "no primary" theory when there is a primary.

And I will remind you of something: Jon Powers was endorsed by every county committee and lost. You will hear me repeat that over and over again. These endorsements are nice, but the election will decide the winner. We all know that here. But these endorsements show the kind of support that Gillibrand has received.

These are also county chair endorsements, not county committees. I'm sure my committee will vote on this at some point, as will the others.

Support our troops, not the war.

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:31:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

your sarcasm is cheerful (0.00 / 0)

but one of the things I like about our county chair is that she isn't usually in a rush to endorse.

I'm pretty sure Irene Stein knows Gillibrand, and I'd even wager she likes her.  As do I.

Nonetheless, I'm glad for her restraint in this mad rush to line up endorsements more than a year out.

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:39:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't see this as a "rush" (4.00 / 1)

But 52 county chairs backing Gillibrand this early? That speaks volumes.

I was wondering a week or so ago about this and how many county chairs support her. I was guessing that the NY-20 chairs would all support her and maybe a scattering of others. I didn't expect 52.

That's not a small number this early in the game. You might think it's a rush for endorsements, but if they are seeking endorsements and they get 52 of the 62 endorsements, that says a lot.

I'm glad my chair endorsed, even if it's perceived as a rushed endorsement. I hope our committee puts it to a vote and then we all can have a voice on this.


Support our troops, not the war.

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by: robert.harding @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:18:40 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I see endorsing candidates 15 months before a primary (0.00 / 0)

as a seriously crazy rush, and one that makes me worry about the weakness that would drive such a strategy rather than marvel at the strength underneath it.

I also look forward to our county committee voting on this - but hopefully next year around this time, not this year!

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:27:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

More than weakness (4.00 / 1)

is that this shows a desire to avoid a divisive primary which could cost tens of millions of dollars that could be spent elsewhere.

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by: Rufus T. Firefly @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 13:05:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Weakness? (0.00 / 0)

Weakness would be trying to rack up endorsements and only coming up with a few. If they only had the backing of 26 county chairs (half of the real number), I doubt we would have heard about it. That's because such a number, at this stage, would show real weakness. Not being able to rack up a high number of endorsements at this stage means that people are still considering their options.

Next year, around this time, you will be late to the party. Sorry Simon, but these aren't the elections of years past. The campaign for this seat started when Gillibrand was appointed. Ever since she was appointed, people have been waiting to get in line. Tasini slammed Gillibrand's appointment and he fell short of announcing back in January. Now, he is in it. And it's only a matter of time before Maloney announces.

But it speaks volumes that Gillibrand has been able to net 52 endorsements from county chairs already. There are some key ones missing, however. But to have almost all of upstate and some big counties like Nassau County in the mix says a lot about what Gillibrand has been able to do. She still has some work to do in the city, but I think those areas are waiting to see if Maloney comes out and then seeing how Maloney fares against Gillibrand.

Gillibrand isn't weak. She's actually very strong. She has been criticized for not introducing legislation, yet she was just on a press call the other day pushing her plan for addressing the high costs of child care. She is able to balance grassroots support and the ability to raise large sums of money. And she is one of the best representatives we have because she listens.

I think that is why the 52 chairs endorsed at this stage. Take Joe Morelle, for example. Morelle has met with Gillibrand and he has met with Maloney (she did stop in Rochester during her brief visit through Western New York). Morelle decided already to get behind Gillibrand. I'm sure there are more examples of that, but these endorsements show strength.  

Support our troops, not the war.

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by: robert.harding @ Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 07:54:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

sure, she's strong among the people who go to NYS Dem Committee meetings (0.00 / 0)

but even in NYS, there's more to politics than that.

Look, I know you and a bunch of other folks here like her enough that the very idea that she should have to face competition for her seat is annoying.  Republican strength in New York State is indeed largely built on divisions among Democrats, giving a veneer of possible truth to these arguments.

But none of that, to me, does anything to justify this kind of effort to turn off the political oxygen to potential primary challengers, especially this far out.

Seen Gail Collins this morning?   My favorite bit, which maybe I should put on the front page, is:

voters don't owe their elected legislators promotions, or even retention. (I'm very sensitive on this issue after years of sitting in endorsement meetings listening to arguments about how it's not fair to deprive a person of their seat in the Assembly when the indictment hasn't even been handed down yet.)

I like her.  I just don't think turning off the political oxygen early is an excercise worthy of democrats.

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by: simonstl @ Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 09:35:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sure (4.00 / 1)

But the County Chairs are (almost) all on the state committee - the people who make the Official Democratic Party endorsement.

Plus they're the ones who have the final say as to what petitions go out in the petition packets, seeing as they put them together.

County Committee endorsements in this race mean nothing except a press release.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 13:25:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tompkins is probably the only Upstate county (4.00 / 1)

and perhaps the only one in the whole state Gillibrand can lose in a primary.

so that doesn't surprise me.

Plus. I hearsay Queens Democrats are inching closer to endorsing her, but are holding out because Maloney represents parts of Queens.  

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by: nrafter530 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:55:46 AM CDT

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given Tompkins' history it's possible (0.00 / 0)

though I haven't heard any rumblings, except for this guy running.

Most of what I've heard about Gillibrand is positive, maybe as relief that "it isn't Clinton any more" for some and "we hope she's like Clinton" for others.

Negatives I've heard lately are all for Paterson.

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 12:58:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You, and also the Tasini supporters (4.00 / 1)

I think you, Simon, have been pretty eloquent on why we need more primaries, and, people are listening (esp, Irene).

We also have some rabid Tasini fans.... some of whom have been emailing me, and have been shocked that I don't think much of him.  Damned if I will give up my free-thinking nonconformist birthright just to be an Ithaca progressive clone.

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by: robinia @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 13:30:05 PM CDT

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I only know one really strong past Tasini supporter (0.00 / 0)

and I haven't checked in with her in a while to find out what she thinks of Gillibrand.  Last we talked, I think the appointment had just happened.

A lot of what I heard, at least in Dryden, was exhaustion with Clinton, especially because people felt she was aiming for the White House rather than representing New York.  On the war, mostly.  (I think our town committee probably had a pro-Clinton majority on it overall, though Tasini petitions were available and we let people choose what to carry.)

Maybe that frustration is still out there, and I'm just not hearing it because I retired as chair, but I think a lot of those embers have cooled.  The folks I'd talked with won't likely jump to Gillibrand easily, but they'll have more interest than they did in Clinton.

Tompkins is probably the county most welcoming to Tasini, but I just don't really see it happening.  

(And fortunately, I don't think anyone expects or particularly wants me to be a clone!)

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 13:45:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

lol (0.00 / 0)

Isn't it strange how "conformist" progressives and liberals can be when you have a different p.o.v.?

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by: fran20 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 15:45:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gillibrand continues to impress (0.00 / 0)

people whose endorsements will matter, if there is a primary.

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by: devtob @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:30:26 AM CDT

in 'glass half empty' mode, the Daily News (0.00 / 0)

talks about 10 chairs "holding out" on Gillibrand.

52 just isn't enough to impress a cynical media, I guess!

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by: simonstl @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 14:18:28 PM CDT

As Robert noted that a lot of the hold outs are downstate... (0.00 / 0)

That's a lot of momentum that could swing Maloney's way if people have someone else to choose from in a primary besides Gillibrand!

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by: CuseDem09 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 15:58:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If you missed it... Maloney highlights the differences (0.00 / 0)

Between herself and Kirsten in this NY Daily News piece today

Link - http://tinyurl.com/lhzbgn

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by: CuseDem09 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 16:00:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great news (0.00 / 0)

Between the flurry of endorsements, and Gillibrand's prodigious legislative proposals (today she unveiled a detailed and pragmatic six point plan to provide help to New York working parents struggling to afford child care), it's hard to keep up with the increasing momentum. The door is closing rapidly for a serious challenge, and even then, it would be an uphill fight. Hopefully, our reps will decide it makes more sense to row in the same direction and get things done between now and 2010, instead of attacking each other.

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by: fran20 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 15:44:19 PM CDT

Does no one find it disturbing... (4.00 / 1)

...that there is such a rush to endorse this early?  What about a real primary? What about letting the voters decide?  There are clearly some powerful politicos trying to kill Gillibrand's competition...but shouldn't we all be a bit wary of just jumping on the bandwagon before she has even been vetted??

There are some very worrisome issues in her past (gay rights etc) that are just starting to get any attention.  Let's not end this thing before there's any kind of real debate.

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by: nysdem1980 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 17:13:27 PM CDT

Here, here (0.00 / 0)

And still half the state is left up for grabs from those counties who haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet.  Hopefully we'll all be able to choose who we want when all is said and done.

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by: CuseDem09 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 17:30:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Worrisome? What, exactly, and how? (4.00 / 1)

Gillibrand's record on gay rights is, in fact, really good. Arguably better than Maloney's, since Maloney to my knowledge isn't on the record supporting gay marriage the way Gillibrand is.

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by: Adama @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 22:00:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Records (0.00 / 0)

Gillibrand's record is, indeed, about as good as it gets.  She'd repeal don't ask/don't tell and the Defense of Marriage Act and supports Marriage Equality.  

Everyone should criticize aspects of her record which they disagree with, but it's worth looking at that record first.  

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by: Hyde @ Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 09:27:34 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

How does (4.00 / 1)

endorsing stop the voters from deciding?

You want on the ballot? Get 15000 valid signatures from voters, and make sure you get at least 100 from at least 15 different Congressional Districts. An endorsement can not stop someone from doing that. Maloney can do that without ever having to step foot north of the Bronx.

Once you're on that ballot, the voters decide.

I think she was pretty vetted when her opponent spent 6 million dollars to tear her to shreds.

IF no Republican emerges, then have at a primary. But if there is a serious Republican threat, you all seem to forget that we could Still Conceivably Lose.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 23:12:37 PM CDT

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How? By Scaring Potential Contenders Away (0.00 / 0)

"How does endorsing stop the voters from deciding?"

Simple: by getting potential candidates to think that it's too tough a battle to go up against the party establishment, so it's not even worth running. That deprives the voters of a choice.

Of the remaining contenders I've heard about, I'd support Gillibrand. But I don't support the apparent effort by the party to avoid a primary for the sake of, well, avoiding a primary. Yes, I know all the arguments about wasting money and how the primary in NY is too close to the general. I think the Democratic candidate would win anyway, and I think sometimes we have to pay a price for fundamental principles, like allowing voters to choose the party's candidate.

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by: dsimon @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 23:52:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]