Cross-Posted on The Albany Project

Candidates Debate at Two Forums - Tonko, Democrats Release Energy Plans
New Endorsements for Tonko, Brooks - Internet Poll Gives Lead To Steck

With about 25 days to go before Primary Day, the Democratic race in the 21st Congressional District saw one of it's busiest weeks ever in the past seven days.  Two major candidates' forums were held, people's mailboxes are overflowing with mailers, signs are popping up everywhere, and the airwaves are beginning to see a bombardment of advertising.

Given the competitive nature of the race and the strength of the candidates, it's likely that we ain't seen nothin' yet.  Go below the fold for a wrap-up of the bigger events and the odds and ends that may have whizzed by you in the past seven days.

On Tuesday, five of the seven candidates for Congress met at the the Unitarian Universalists Society in Albany.  Democrats Tracey Brooks, Phil Steck, Joseph Sullivan, and Paul Tonko and Republican Steven Vasquez were all in attendance.  The debate's moderator, Dr. Robert Fropp, introduced himself as the chair of the Capital District Alliance for Universal Health care, recieving plenty of applause when he announced "I am definitiely not running for Congress."

One Democrat, Darius Shahinfar, and the other Republican, Jim Buhrmaster, were both absent from the forum.  Shahinfar because his wife was giving birth to his second child at the time, and Buhrmaster to cast votes in his capacity as Schenectady County Legislator.  The five candidates that remained were then given several questions that devled deep into one of the biggest issues of the primary.

Below the fold, a full report of the questions and answers in yet another debate in this hotly contested primary.

Originally Posted on The Albany Project

Steck Leads the Pack on Iran, Campaign Finance
Shahinfar Speaks Out On Iraq; Brooks Back On TV
Sullivan Petition Challenge Fails, "Loneranger" Rides On

The first week of August saw a flurry of campaign activity as the five Democrats seeking to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty continued...and indeed a five-way race.  Self-described conservative Democratic candidate Joseph Sullivan has withstood a private challenge to his petitions.  

Meanwhile, the other four major contenders, Tracey Brooks, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, and Paul Tonko, all lined up against a recent House resolution co-sponsored by the retiring incumbent regarding new sanctions and a possible blockade of Iran.  While the big four seem unified on this front, we have ourselves a bit of split on campaign finance reform.

The full weekly wrap-up below the fold...

Cross-Posted On The Albany Project

September 9 Ballot Order Made Final
Steck Hits Mailboxes, Telephones; Brooks On Radio Waves
Update on Petitions Challenges

As we say goodbye to July and hello to August, the two primaries for the Democratic and Republican nominations to be the NY-21’s next Representative keeps rolling.  While there are no holidays in August, you can rest assured that none of the candidates are taking one, and are likely getting a lot of exercise and perhaps even bruises on their knuckles from knocking on doors.

This week may not have been as awash in news as last week’s State of the Race, but in a race with five Democrats and two Republicans, there’s bound to be enough news even for the seventh day of rest.  Get your fill below the fold...

Darius Shahinfar running in the open NY-21 congressional district has brought on Joe Trippi & Associates to his team.  The details were released moments ago.

And if you have never had a chance to learn about Darius, after the break is a video clip of him on Iraq and supporting the

Responsible Plan to End the War.

Cross-Posted on The Albany Project

Brooks Debuts Advertising Blitz, Steck Delivers First Mailer
New Endorsements Totals for Brooks, Steck, Tonko
Shahinfar, Sullivan Continue Fight for Media Coverage

With less than fifty days to go before the Democratic Primary for Congress, all five Democrats are putting forth their best effort to get their messages out to the voters.  Each is making the case that they have their own unique experience and style that makes them the best replacement for retiring Democratic Congressman Mike McNulty.

Below the fold, the first in a weekly series of news wraps ups summarizing the campaigns’ activities directly from the campaigns themselves...not filtered through the lackluster mainstream media.

Orginally Posted On The Albany Project

JULY 19, 2008 - Yesterday night, the Albany Jewish Community Center and NORC hosted a forum featuring all seven candidates vying for both major party lines in an open Congressional race to fill the vacancy that will be left when Rep. Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) retires.  It was the first debate held after the filing of nominating petitions, so all seven candidates will be appearing on the ballot for the September 9th primary.

"I am not the League of Women Voters!" the hostess pointed out at the beginning of the forum, before asking the first question of all the candidates: would they all sign a civility pledge as drawn up by the League?  The response was unanimous in the affirmative, and the candidates kept to that pledge for the entirety of the debate.

Below the fold, you get the candidates opening and closing statements and their answers to six questions submitted from the audience.

The Albany Times Union yesterday debuted the first article in a series chronicling the growth of the Capital Region’s suburbs in the last half century and the effect it is having on the present day.  Yesterday’s cover story gives the editorial introduction, and today’s page prints comments from the TU’s blog.

Now, with the price of gas above $4 a gallon, some wonder if the Capital Region, and the rest of the country, is at a crossroads. Can the growth of suburbia continue? Can the region maintain its high quality of life if existing trends continue? Will fuel become so pricey people can no longer afford commutes from the outlying suburbs?

As I read the article and the comments, I couldn’t help but notice that these questions have great relevance to the Democratic primary for Congress in the 21st district.  Indeed, some are exactly the same questions being asked of the four Democrats running for the seat.

Complete analysis below the fold...

Oringainally Posted on The Albany Project

When I met Darius Shahinfar at the Tea & Tap Room in Albany, he greeted me with an anecdote about this story, which joked that, if elected, his name would mess up all the Congressional spell-checkers.  The unusual name is of Iranian origin, as Darius is a first-generation Iranian-American, named after one of the great emperors of ancient Persia.

But while he recalled this story with a sense of humor over introductions, he introduced his campaign to with a sense of confidence over coffee.   The race in the 21st shrank with the turning in of petitions, and he now has only three opponents.  Something he said during the course of the interview, however, indicated that he didn’t see things quite that way:

"I’m not running against Paul Tonko, I’m not running against Phil, I’m not running against Tracey...I’m running for Congress."  Shahinfar said as part of the interview below the fold.

There's been much talk about filing nominating petitions lately, and I think a wrap up is needed.  Per the Times Union report, candidates Tracey Brooks, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, and Paul Tonko all handed in enough Democratic signatures to make the cut.

Four Democratic candidates emerged from the petition-filing deadline Thursday, chopping in half the crowded field that once numbered up to 10 Democratic hopefuls in the most competitive 21st race in more than 50 years.

Full coverage below the flip...

Given what happened yesterday, I feel it's important I repost my earlier diary on who are the GOOD Democratic challengers when it comes to FISA.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  (For the Senate, I'm only including those who voted against cloture yesterday for the bill.)  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

In the last couple days, there have been several posts across the blogosphere citing what various candidates running for Congress have said on FISA and retroactive immunity for the telecoms.  But so far, it's been all over the map.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

Robert Harding will be hosting Darius Shahinfar, Democratic candidate for Congress in the open NY-21 seat, tonight at 6:00PM eastern time for a live blogging session at The Albany Project.

Be sure and get there early so that...

... you don't have to stand in the back of the room.

Paul Tonko was one of the most talked-about candidates for months before he decided to run about two months ago, and "officially" a few weeks ago.  He could often be heard saying he would "hit the ground running" both on the campaign and in Mike McNulty's seat once the Congressman retired and the recently resigned NYSERDA presient and 23-year Assembly veteran Tonko took the cake.

But judging from Tonko's performance on the web as the Times Union reported yesterday, Tonko may have hit the ground running, but when it comes to hitting the Web, a better saying might be "I've fallen, and I can't get up."

Find out how the big name fell flat below the flip...

Phil Steck gets Independence Party Backing
Working Families endorse Paul Tonko
Former Republican party chair enters Democratic Primary

When the Working Families Party endorsed Paul Tonko, they released a statement entitled "In Crowded Field, Third Party Hopes to Give Progressive Candidate Major Boost."

This could also have been said about Phil Steck, who has recieved the backing of the Independence Party.  The two now have third-party support in an eight...make that nine-way race to fill Mike McNulty's shoes when he retires.

...and in "who cares" news, the dueling Republicans picked up their backing too: Conservatives for Buhrmaster and Presidential candidate Ron Paul for Vasquez.  More on the primary that will produce the next Congressman for the 21st below the fold.

Cross Posted on The Albany Project.

The past couple of days have rocketed the packed Democratic Primary for Congress in NY-21 into the limeight.  Yesterday saw a flurry of campaign movement over the Albany County Democratic Committee's endorsement of Phil Steck over Tracey Brooks and Paul Tonko after hundreds of commitee members walked out.

As the Times Union reports today, this is still making headlines in a race that has now heated up to become one of the most hotly contested Democratic races in the country.  Just days after the announcement of local superstar Paul Tonko and months into a media bias towards establishment-backed Tracey Brooks, Phil Steck has successfully swung the momentum of the race in his favor with a decisive victory.

It was only two days ago that former Assemblyman and NYSERDA President Paul Tonko made his campaign for Congress official after months of speculation.  It was a few weeks ago that seven of eight Democratic candidates were screened by the Albany County Democratic Committee for their endorsement.  

At these two events, and at last week's eight-way debate, Paul Tonko made his argument that he could "hit the ground running" in Congress and on the campaign trail.  Yet Phil Steck's strongly-worded resopnse to Tonko's announcement made it clear the primary will be a marathon.  The Steck campaign appears to confirm this today by winning the endorsement of the Albany County Democratic Committee.

The full story below the fold...

Longtime Former Assemblyman, Recently Resigned Spitzer Appointee Finally Makes Things Official, Also Scores Early Endorsement

Cross Posted at The Albany Project.

When Mike McNulty (D, NY-21) annouced his intentions to retire from Congress after 20 years of service, Paul Tonko's name was instantly tossed about in print and on airwaves as a possible successor.  Several other Capital Region career-politicians had similar rumours circulating this winter, yet Paul Tonko was the only one who neither confirmed nor denied the halo surrounding the possibility of his candidacy.

Today, Paul Tonko will officially annouce that, yes, he is running for Congress.  He will do so tonight at the Albany Labor Temple at 5:30.  In doing so, he joins seven other Democrats who have already officially annouced their candidacy, and with whom he debated with a week ago while still an unofficial candidate.