Ok - this is a surprise and good news.
The Independence Party in NY has endorsed Scott Murphy for Congress. This is a good boost for Scott Murphy and a setback for Jim Tedisco. The Independence Party is third in enrollment, behind the Republicans and the Democrats, but ahead of the Conservative and Working Family parties.
This story headlined the local news on WNYT in Albany.
Scott Murphy
In a setback to Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco's congressional bid, Democratic newcomer Scott Murphy has landed the Independence Party line in the 20th CD battle after furious lobbying by both sides, Indy insiders said.
Both Murphy and Tedisco interviewed for the line (Row C), but state party officials, who control the endorsement because the district crosses multiple county lines, voted unanimously to back Murphy.
UPDATE: Adding to the significance of this decision: It's the first time the line has gone to a Democrat in the 20th CD.
NY Daily News
That's worth repeating: It's the first time the line has gone to a Democrat in the 20th CD.
In 2006, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand and then-GOP Rep. John Sweeney fought in court over the Indy line, with Sweeney coming out the victor. Even with Row C, he still lost in the general election.
In 2008, the Indy line went to Gillibrand's GOP challenger, Sandy Treadwell, who received 8,024 votes on it. Despite the fact that Treadwell had three lines (GOP, Indy and Conservative) to Gillibrand's two (Democrat and WFP), she won handily - 193,651 to 118,013. Barack Obama carried the district, too.
20 CD Enrollment:
125,486 - Democrat
196,118 - Republican
24,713 - Independence
9,306 - Conservative
118,634 - no affiliation
Tedisco is trying to run away from the fact that he is a Republican, and he still won't say if he supports the stimulus bill. The Washington Post had a story the other day
Among the district's many independents, the Republican brand still remains problematic. And Tedisco, in the detailed and glossy literature his supporters have been handing out, touts all of his accomplishments in the state legislature -- but never once does the word "Republican" appear.
"I don't see myself necessarily as a Republican," Tedisco said. "I see myself as a public servant, of the Republican affiliation."
A public servant of the Republican affiliation? Does anyone know what that is?
Tedisco is trying to run away from the Republican Party, proclaiming himself as an independent, but the Independence Party has rejected him.
And the Republicans are promoting this guy - see devtob's diary, while he is trying to run away from them?
Help Scott Murphy