Also at The Albany Project
Scott Murphy, Democratic candidate in the March 31 special election for NY-20, formally opened his campaign headquarters at 3 Warren St. in Glens Falls today before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 supporters and all of the local news media.
Murphy was introduced by State Democratic Committee Chair June O'Neill, who commended his job-creating success as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist:
If you want to know what someone will do, take a look at what they have done. Scott has a proven record in this area. He understands that strong families form the cornerstone of a strong community.
snip
In Congress, Scott is going to put his firsthand, real-life experience of helping to create jobs and grow small businesses in the effort to fight to get our economy and the country moving on the right direction again.
We need someone who has a new voice, new ideas, new energy to go to Washington and join the new majority there.
The candidate said a few words, plus an interesting labor story, below.
Murphy spoke mostly about jobs, but also touched on health insurance and taxes.
Unlike career politicians, I bring a unique perspective. My perspective doesn't come from decades spent in Albany, it doesn't come from a career spent in the halls of Washington.
I've spent my career on the front lines, fighting to create jobs and build small businesses that are the economic engine of our community.
For the first time in American history, an entire generation is at risk of being worse off than their parents were. And nowhere is that more true than here in upstate New York.
Our region is facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with upstate families losing their jobs, their homes, their health insurance by the thousands.
In just the last three months, over 100,000 private sector jobs have disappeared from New York. And today we face the worst unemployment in 16 years.
These aren't just statistics. Behind every number there's a parent, a neighbor, there's a kid or child, there's a community, and they're wondering when are things going to get better, when is it going to be over.
We have good news. We have everything we need to create good-paying jobs here in upstate New York.
We have people who are willing to work. We have parents who are willing to sacrifice to make a better life for their kids. And we have leaders like Kirsten Gillibrand and Barack Obama who are willing to fight to create change.
snip
Everywhere I go, across this district and across New York, people are worried about job losses. They want a leader who does more than talk about jobs, they want someone who actually creates jobs.
Regarding health insurance, Murphy said:
There isn't a day that goes by when Jen (his wife) and I don't count our blessings that we have quality, affordable health insurance. That's not the case for far too many families in our community.
And if I'm sent to Congress, I will fight to make sure that everyone n our district has access to the same quality affordable health care that Members of Congress have.
On taxes, Murphy said:
Too many upstate families are working longer and harder for less pay. The last thing they need is to pay higher taxes.
If I'm in Congress, I will fight for real tax relief for middle class families. Not for those at the top who need it the least, but for the middle class families that need it the most.
And I'll fight just as hard to fight to hold the line on property taxes that are squeezing all of our families tighter and tighter every year.
Murphy also commented that he will work in a bipartisan way on these issues.
I know that may rankle some here, but in a district that has about 70,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, it's smart politics.
Republican candidate Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (a career politician who does not live in the district) told Channel 6 last night that the top three issues in the campaign are jobs, jobs and jobs. Though it's a typical Tedisco sound-bite, taking him at his word, it's one thing he agrees with Murphy on.
So it was quite interesting to hear that Murphy's interview with the AFL-CIO went well.
A strong labor commitment to Murphy will be essential to his campaign's success, as it was for Gillibrand in 2006. And, judging from the many labor types at today's event, and my friend's story, Murphy is likely to get that commitment.
This is a national race with national implications, so please give Murphy some credit card love if you can afford to.
P.S. This event was noteworthy for me, in that I finally met, and thanked, RonV, a Democratic activist in a 2-1 Republican town in Warren County, and a Kossack with a four-digit UID who has actively commented on many of my diaries about the 20th.
Ron noted that his town went for Obama and Gillibrand, which is more good news for Scott Murphy.
P.P.S. Murphy's first TV ad began running today. It's quite good, check it out.