Big News for us New Yorkers
In another sign of how bad things are for the Republican Congressional Caucus this fall, the Cook Report has responded to the retirement of Tom Reynolds with an upgrading of the race...and he throws some love Jon Powers' way.
It's in a district that has been royal red for as long as one can remember; New York's 26th District.
The skinny is after the flip:
By the numbers, Reynolds’s suburban Buffalo-to-Rochester district is the second most Republican in upstate New York, and any number of Republicans could put Reynolds’s formidable political operation to work to keep the seat in the GOP column. Plus, there is little doubt that much of the $862,000 Reynolds reported in cash on hand at the end of 2007 will find its way into the district this fall. But its newly open status should bring the likely Democratic nominee, Iraq veteran and teacher Jon Powers, the flood of money and attention he has sought for months. This becomes the latest GOP open seat addition to the Toss Up column.
To the South, Democratic Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche became the highest profile candidate to enter the race to replace retiring Louisiana GOP Rep. Jim McCrery on either side this week. The Shreveport-based district’s politics – it has a PVI of R+7 – suggest an uphill climb for any Democrat running in a presidential year, but Democrats are confident that Carmouche’s law-and-order profile will win him necessary crossover support. Already, several well-known Republicans have passed on the race, leaving trucking company owner Chris Gorman as the current GOP favorite. Following in the track of AL-02, this race moves to the Lean Republican column.
Add Jon Powers to the list of great New York pick-up opportunities.
He has been instigated his Club 26 Program, where people can donate just $26 a month to make it all happen. I'm a member and I want to encourage 10 others to join me.
If you have any questions about Jon or the race, ping me at:
brian at thealbanyproject dot com
Jon Powers for Congress NY-26
Disclaimer: I am working with the Powers campaign, but I speak for myself.