NY-13: Rep. Vito Fossella arrested for drunk driving

[Keystone Phil]

I love how the most recent article of Newsweek claimed that Fossella resigned a week ago.

[Sam Spade]

I love how the most recent article of Newsweek claimed that Fossella resigned a week ago.

Fact-checker?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How many retiring GOP reps does that make it?

[Sam Spade]

A lot.  This will probably be the last one, however, barring future scandal.

[Meeker]

By my count this is #27, although I could've missed one. That's at least 13.5% of the entire caucus.

[Brittain33]

A lot.  This will probably be the last one, however, barring future scandal.

I'm sure at least one joker will wait until after the filing deadline so he can grease the skids for a chief of staff or son to get the nomination through other means.

[Brittain33]

Republican top prospect Donovan said no, which makes this race more appealing for the Democrats involved.

[Spaghetti Cat]

GOP just chose Frank Powers.  He'll face Michael McMahon on the Dem side.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=82176

[Sam Spade]

Dems have the better candidate here, at least in terms of political experience (i.e. strong political experience vs. first-time candidate). 

I didn't know who Frank Powers was until I looked him up, actually.  He can likely self-fund.

[Conan]

Why do many in the media just say he just filed a child out of wedlock? They should call it what it is, a secret family. This isn't the same thing as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or something.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

GOP just chose Frank Powers.  He'll face Michael McMahon on the Dem side.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=82176

Why are they choosing candidates now? The primary filing deadline hasn't even passed yet, much less the primary.

[Sam Spade]

GOP just chose Frank Powers.  He'll face Michael McMahon on the Dem side.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=82176

Why are they choosing candidates now? The primary filing deadline hasn't even passed yet, much less the primary.

In a word - machines.

[Meeker]

So they nominate someone who no one has ever heard of before this evening? Oh how the Staten Island GOP has fallen



Winner right thur

[Sam Spade]

Basically, from what I'm reading, he became the guy once others dropped out, most specifically State Sen. Andrew Lanza (and basically every other elected official). 

I did the homework that I could on the guy.  Basically, he's an ex-Wall Street executive who is presently a member of the MTA board.  Not exactly an unknown in terms of the real world (he's highly involved in many things), but an unknown in the political world.  He is highly involved in the Staten Island GOP, of course.  Should have no problems raising money, and as I mentioned earlier, he can self-fund.

The real questions are of course, how he functions as a candidate and what exactly he believes in. (which I can't answer)

Anyway, McMahon is one of the strongest candidates the Dems could put up here.  I know him fairly well, so there.

If strongest candidates from both parties were running against each other, the local lean of the seat is still fundamentally lean GOP (though it would be functionally toss-up at the national level).  Considering the situation, I would place this at minimum in toss-up and possibly in Lean D.  A lot really depends on the quality of Powers as a candidate, which is something I can't judge at this moment without seeing him on TV or putting up ads or something.

That's all.

[Sam Spade]

Best article on the event/situation:

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/gop_endorses_powers.html

[Brittain33]

Winner right thur

Chris Matthews can smell the Aqua Velva and Old Spice from 200 miles away.

[Torie]

Oh dear. This seat HAS to be done the drain.

[Sam Spade]

Oh dear. This seat HAS to be done the drain.

You're probably right of course.  I'm just being cautious unless this guy has some hidden talents I'm missing in his picture.  You never would have thought some little shrimp of a guy with an annoying Boston accent would have gotten elected here either.

[The Mikado]

The race between Mike McMahon, the Democratic candidate, Frank Powers Sr, the Republican candidate, has a new third contender...Frank Powers Jr., the Libertarian candidate.  Someone has Oedipal issues.

[Spaghetti Cat]

Good God, I'm sure the Molinaris cringed when they heard this.....

[minionofmidas]

The race between Mike McMahon, the Democratic candidate, Frank Powers Sr, the Republican candidate, has a new third contender...Frank Powers Jr., the Libertarian candidate.  Someone has Oedipal issues.

Wow.

Has this ever happened before?

[Sam Spade]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/nyregion/15staten.html?ref=nyregion

The SI Republican party, in an amusing turn of events, has endorsed former (ousted) Staten Island Assemblyman Robert A. Straniere for the NY-13 seat.

In addition to the things mentioned in the Times article, Straniere is quite liberal for a Republican (he used to get the Working Families' Party endorsement - lol).  Although endorsement of the SI GOP should be just enough to get him the nomination, I personally doubt the Conservative party will endorse him (the Independence party has endorsed someone else, I think).

McMahon, if he's got any brains (and he does), will choose to run to run to the right of him (if he keeps to the left) and hammer him for the Manhattan thingy.

Race remains unchanged in my view from present (see my list) - after all Straniere does have a history of actually being able to win in SI (just problems in the GOP primary), something I can't say for the other joke candidates.

[minionofmidas]

"what is likely to be the most hotly contested Congressional race in New York City this year"

Understatement?

I also note Molinari's comments... doesn't sound as if Straniere has the full backing of the Staten Island GOP machine, does it now?

[Sam Spade]

"what is likely to be the most hotly contested Congressional race in New York City this year"

Understatement?

I missed that - that's unintentionally hilarious!

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I doubt he does.  But he never did.

[minionofmidas]

"what is likely to be the most hotly contested Congressional race in New York City this year"

Understatement?

I missed that - that's unintentionally hilarious!

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I doubt he does.  But he never did.

Ah, but did he use to need it? Where on the Island was his assembly district, exactly? Can't have been the northern end if the guy who beat him in the primary went on to win the general.