Dems Prepare for First Big Debate Steck Campaign Reports Movement Leading Up To Debate
Tonko Liabilities Begin to Emerge Even Before Official Announcement
Brooks-Hillary Similarities Add Up At Gas Pump
A whopping eight Democrats will make their case tonight that they are the most qualified to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty at the first official primary debate of the season.
It is sure to be closely watched and dominate the news on the campaign from this point forward. But what's been happening in the lead-up to this event should not be missed.
Tonko Liabilities Begin to Emerge Even Before Official Announcement
In the lead-up to the debate, things have been moving on the campaign trail. Longtime rumored candidate Paul Tonko, a former Assemblyman, confirmed his bid for the seat. The press has been hounding Tonko's every move since McNulty announced his retirement. Tonko's recent retirement as President of NYSERDA had the same speculative treatment. He told the press on May 2nd that there would be a "formal announcement in the near future."
However, Tonko still has yet to cut the ribbon on his campaign and make things official. The amount of time it is taking for him to officially annouce might make for a good question at tonight's debate. And it has already brought the ire of some pockets of the local press corps.
The time Tonko is taking on this campaign may emerge as a liability for him, not in and of itself, but because the longer it takes, the more stories like this have time to appear to fill the gap. Capitol Confidential yesterday detailed that alothough Tonko has been retired from the Assembly since last July, he has still be driving using his Assembly license plates.
For now, the Tonko campaign for Congress is clearly parked while other campaigns are shifting into higher gear. Yet his performance at the debate tonight could be a zero to sixty moment with such high name recognition.
Steck Campaign Reports Movement Leading Up To Debate
The campaign of Albany County Legislator Phil Steck is one such campaign gaining speed in the weeks prior to the debate. After the grand opening of his campaign headquarters on the first, the Steck for Congress movement continued seeking support from the community and has continued to recieve it. The campaign is also making use of youtube to emphasize it's community-based support:
Adding to the integrity of a campaign once written off by the mainstream media, the Steck campaign continued to annouce more endorsements from local elected officials in key areas. On Monday, Phil Steck recieved the endorsement of Amsterdam's Town Supervisor Tom DiMezza. This coupled with the former endorsement of former Amsterdam Mayor John Duchessi is significant in that Amsterdam is Paul Tonko's longtime home turf.
And today, Steck annouced that the five members of the Troy City Council majority have also endorsed his campaign. The status of the city of Troy as third largest in the district just off a Democratic take-over last year, and the fact that none of the eight candidates are from Rensellaer County, might give a bit more weight to these individual endorsements. But the fact that Steck has accumulated over 50 total endorsements is one that is hopefully noted at tonight's debate as well.
Brooks-Hillary Similarities Add Up At Gas Pump
The campaign of former Hillary Clinton aide Tracey Brooks is engaging in the same grassroots tactics as the Steck campaign is, dropping literature and staging press events. She has some big name endorsements, including Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and some union support for local credibility and some recognition from a former failed run for the Assembly.
Yet the Brooks campaign seems to be mirroring the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign with its recent campaign stops at gas stations in the last two weeks. The talking points are very similar, yet Brooks stopped short of endorsing the Senator's gas tax holiday, distancing her position from her former boss.
This may be an indicator of how the presidential race is impacting local elections. It would be very interesting if one of tonight's debate questions involved which presidential candidate currently supports.
Other News from the Campaign Trail Missed by the MSM
National politics has also touched the campaign of Rep. Gillibrand's former aide Darius Shahinfar in his first bid for elected office. In lieu of acting locally, the netroots has been Shahinfar's choice for movement. He recently signed on to the "Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq", and obtaining the endorsement of the Iranian-American Political Action Committee.
Shahinfar himself is an Iranian-American, but had harsh words for Iran in a statement on the 60th Anniversary of the State of Isreal; neither of these releases were covered in local print or broadcast media. Candidate Lester Freeman has begun to compile his meida coverage on his updated website. As a failed candidate for County Legislator, Albany Common Council, and Mayor, he might have something to say about that.
A question at tonight's debate that will most likely not be asked is whether the candidate's consider the media coverage has been fair to all candidates thus far. If it has been lacking up until now, the debate tonight could be a turning point in local coverage of the primary in the 21st, especially as the presidenital contest gets locked up.
Tonight's debate begins at 7:00 tonight at the SEIU 1199 Headquarters, 155 Washington Ave., Albany. It is sponsored by Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region and the Robert F. Kennedy Democrats.
