Also at The Albany Project
After his special-election loss to Scott Murphy in April, Jim Tedisco sulked for a while and was unusually quiet.
But, with his finger to the teabag wind, Tedisco's been getting back in the media lately, opposing a $200-per-child state grant to welfare families for back-to-school expenses (paid for with stimulus funds and a grant from a George Soros foundation), and proposing a state constitutional amendment to allow recall elections for state elected officials.
And today, Tedisco told Maury Thompson of the Glens Falls Post-Star that he has been "meeting with county GOP chairmen in the 20th District to discuss a possible rematch next year."
Details, below.
Tedisco was given up for politically dead after he lost a race that he had been heavily favored to win until the last couple of weeks. Also, after the election but before the result was certain, Tedisco gave up his post as Assembly Minority Leader
But, with the media in love with teabaggers and Obama's popularity waning, he smells an opportunity, since he already has the "angry white man" bit down pat.
Here's what Tedisco said about his plans:
"I enjoy being a public servant and I’m looking at the atmosphere now," said Tedisco, a state Assemblyman from Glenville. "And it certainly has changed since when I ran for congressman in the short eight week election."
Tedisco said in a telephone interview that he has been meeting with the 10 county chairmen to analyze mistakes his campaign made in the special election and to discuss how the mood of the country may be changing.
"I think I’ve met or talked with all of them," he said.
Tedisco said he does not have any set timeframe to make a decision about the November 2010 election.
"As I said, we’re weighing our options." he said.
The NY-20 special election was in some ways a mini-Obama referendum, back when the honeymoon was still on.
It will surely be again in 2010, like every other close House race.