2006 should be different. Bush has nothing but the "backwash" to support him, and it seems that people are finally waking up to the right-wing blowhards running things in Washington D.C. In my home state, Hillary Clinton and Elliot Spitzer are poised to win in landslide races (sorry Suozzi supporters, but a guy who takes money form Kenneth Langone and can't get any support in polls is not going to win in a primary) and as many as six races in GOP-held Congressional districts are up for grabs (hopefully Democrats in those districts are making headway against Walsh, Sweeney, Boehlert's party sucessor, Kuhl, and Reynolds.) Unfortunately, a certain faux-moderate Republican might just win re-election. The reason: too many candidates, NOT ENOUGH TIME!
Sue Kelly, who's been my Congresswoman since the Gingrich landslide, has managed to win re-election after re-election with landslides. She won re-election in 2004 with 67% of the vote over sacrificial lamb, Michael Jalamin. 2006 is the first time that there has been any serious talk of taking her out. So much so that a website (the best Kelly-watchdog blog out there) has been set up (take19.blogspot.com)
Unfortunately, the problem this year isn't a lack of a good field or momentum against Kelly, it's too much! As of right now, there are SIX candidates running for the Democratic nomination, with the primary set for September 12th. The winner of this crowded primary will have less than two months to be able to campaign against Kelly.
The candidates include Katonah lawyer Judy Aydelott, singer (of Orleans fame) John Hall, HS principals Ben Shuldiner and Gary Suraci, Yorktown town Councilman Jim Martarano, and political consultant Darren Rigger.
Out of this field, Aydelott has raised the most money (George Soros even hosted a fundraiser for her recently) while Hall seems to have the most buzz and grassroots support (he's even met Markos!) When I was at the Westchester convention as a spectator a few weeks ago (I live in Mount Kisco, and it was only a 10 minute walk from my home), Aydelott and Hall also had their signs covering the walls, which may be trivial, but something that I would consider to be a bellwhether in terms of candidate strengh and money.
Each of these candidates would be credible against Kelly, but their sheer number will force them to compete in a potential bloody primary until September 12th. Unfortunately, one of the reasons why this is being encouraged is because each county that is part of the NY-19 is endorsing their own person. Westchester endorsed Martarano, Putnam endorsed Rigger, while Orange and Dutchess endorsed Hall. If we cleared the field based on fundraising AND endorsements, we would still have four candidates running (Aydelott is doing too well for her to go away quietly.) Even though Martarano and Rigger would be preferable over Kelly, they have little momentum. Yet because they have political connections with the northern Westchester and Putnam establishment Democrats, they walk away with their endorsements. If the primary was now or even July, this wouldn't be a bad thing, but Kelly will have a massive fundraising advantage come September, and is already out getting puff pieces published on her "achievements":
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/...
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/...
IMHO, the field should be narrowed down to the only two candidates who have the best chance: Aydelott and Hall. I'm sure that some may disagree with that, but without money and/or enthusiastic grassroots, it's very hard to unseat a six-term incumbent with a "moderate" facade.