Most of us on here (and certainly those in upstate NY) know of the amazing campaign that John Hall has been running. And the attention and momentum has just kept growing. Now,
The DCCC has noticed and today John Hall gets some much deserved
national press from the AP:
Thanks to a blend of Democratic momentum, Stephen Colbert, YouTube and his own minor league celebrity, strategists say Hall -- a long shot Democratic challenger -- could topple Kelly, who has represented New York's 19th Congressional district since being swept into office as part of the 1994 GOP revolution.
I think it is so important to highlight things like YouTube here because it represents the spirit of people-powered politics. We The People have the right and indeed the duty to monitor and hold our public officials accountable, and because of modern technology we now have the ability to essentially run our own PR campaigns on behalf of the candidates and issues we support. (More on the flipside)
Back to the AP article:
The distance Hall has traveled since announcing his candidacy was underscored by former
President Clinton, who headlined a campaign rally with him here this week.
"Enter John Hall. When he filed (for the race), it must have looked like a fool's errand," Clinton said. "But he's a musician, so has to believe in the impossible, and he's a grass-roots activist, so he understands the power of citizens to change the world."
The article goes on to note that Spitzer and Clinton have campaigned for Hall (about time) and then goes on to talk a little about about Rubber-stamp, runaway Sue Kelly:
Kelly also appeared to be melting a bit when she was filmed running away from a local television news crew trying to press her about appearing in debates. That clip, also on YouTube, has received nearly 30,000 hits.
Kelly said she was running to get out of the rain and that the endless exposure on sites like YouTube had the effect of distorting the race.
Running from the rain? Is that some kind of "botched joke?" It must be because as far as I can recall
video cameras do not produce rain. And distortions? Being caught on camera in the plain light of day (or mist of rain if you so insist) without any special effects or trickery is distortion? No Runaway Sue, that would be nothing more than unraveled truth, something you and your Republican brethern seem to have a very difficult time with.
Interesting then that your opponent is so willing to embrace this new era of unwavering expose:
For his part, Hall, who has placed universal health care and energy independence at the heart of his campaign, says he's been willing to try his hand at new media to get his message out.
That really encapsulates the difference right there. The different between people-power and evidence and reason versus hidden agendas, lies, and hypocrisy.
Hopefully the GOP's overconfidence here will do them in in yet another traditionally red district:
In the end, Republican strategists said they believe Kelly will pull out a victory in the race, because her campaign had long been ready for the worst. If the National Republican Congressional Committee was concerned, the GOP would have spent more than $6,496.86 for phone banks against the Democrat.
Ultimately, the GOP is making so many mistakes at their own peril since just about all the recent polling on this race shows Hall with a slight lead.
Hall also gets a brief mention in
this excellent piece on the fading 'Rockefeller Republicans' I think this can simply be attributed to the radicalizing of the right so much so that the traditionally moderate and more liberal Republicans fall more under the Democratic umbrella. Definitely worth a full read as Lincoln Chaffee's demise is discussed and how that is being mirrored all over the country. And for Chaffee his biggest problem right now is simply that he is a Republican. And on November 7, that's going to cost the Republican party dearly.