News Copy, New York

John Hall Gets Into The Act And Goes After Those Ugly Republicans: Democrat Wants Hayworth To Disavow Barton

As if this political crucifixion scene over the BP Gulf oil spill -- and President Obama's incompetence -- hadn't gotten anymore embittered, Democrat John Hall chose to lay a guilt trip across Republican Nan Hall's bow.

I never thought I would see the day I was roused to come to Ms. Hayworth's defense but after Congressman Eliot Engel's performance yesterday, I'm about ready to take the gloves off against these reactionary liberal Democrats.

The Journal News reported Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, calling on his challenger Nan Hayworth to distance herself from Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) for comments they made concerning BP and the Gulf oil spill.

Memo to John Hall:

Before you admonish a Republican for not admonishing a fellow Republican, take a closer look at your own passivity over President Obama's inaction on the Gulf oil spil.

Same memo to Eliot Engel, who over-dramatized the guilt trip on BP CEO Tony Hayward yesterday to scapegoat Obama's problems anywhere else but the Democratic Party.

Bottom Line:  If the crazy liberal wacko environmentalist like Engel and Hall hadn't pushed oil rigs so far out into the Gulf (and the law was passed during the Clinton administration and renewed with this Democratic Congress), 120 million gallons of oil wouldn't be ruining the Gulf of Mexico right now.

This scapegoating by Democrats of everyone else but themselves has to stop.

Engel And Lowey Draw More Challengers: New York's Suburban Liberals Get No Free Ride

Republicans have three challengers lining up against Eliot Engel, six challengers against Nita Lowey and five candidates against John Hall.

Crowded.  Apparently, crowded everywhere. Whether this is due to "low hanging fruit" or a new patriotism sweeping the country, the Republican brand has drawn more candidates than usual eager to challenge the Democrats.

18th Congressional District (Nita Lowey)

Paul Wasserman, Mark Rosen, Patrick Whalen, Patrick Gillespie, Alexander Block and Jim Russell addressed Westchester's town/city and district leaders last night in Greenburgh.  A number of high-ranking Conservatives from that county's embattled Conservative Party were also on hand.

Block is a Russian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, a Scarsdale resident whose plain-speaking opposition to liberal Democrats reminded everyone what has changed in 2010.

"The concept of politics has always appalled me, so I have stayed away from it," said Block. "... The significant over-reach of liberal Democrats has awakened many people from a slumber."

Block's problem is that he is a registered independent.  But he is a welcome new face on Westchester's political scene and is expected to further bolster what has already been a Republican resurgence in the usually politically-correct Scarsdale.

Jim Russell's conservative views resonated with many Republicans but his campaign is stubbornly unwilling to raise money.  Having already run five times for Congress, sometimes ending up as a spoiler against Republican candidates, it seems impractical for the Mount Pleasant native to again chase this windmill.

But 2010 is the year of windmills, and conservative stands on issues, the unfunded Russell probably will force a divisive Republican primary.

Paul Wasserman is showing up with money, apparently over $200,000, but News Copy learned last night that the Ossining native only changed his registration from to Republican from Democrat in 2009.

News Copy made the mistake yesterday of posting that Wasserman was still a Democrat.  Wasserman did not change his registration before October 7, New York State's arcane deadline for changing party.  The Ossining Republican will need permission from party leaders (a Wilson-Pakula) to run in a Republican primary.

Wasserman clearly has a campaign organization, very strong on the ground and personalizing well with leaders.  However, it is highly unlikely that he will be allowed to run in a Republican primary (Maybe he should challenge Nita Lowey in a Democratic primary?)

Patrick Gillespie of New Rochelle drew spontaneous applause from Republicans when he aggressively stated that he was pro-life.  Gillespie is a latecomer to this race, with no campaign operation in place and no money.

Highly regarded Patrick Whalen of New Castle had the crowd on the edge of their seats but then suddenly announced he would not be running.

Mark Rosen of Mamaroneck continued to draw support and has formed a strong grass-roots operation.  Rosen's problem is the same of every candidate in this race (except Wasserman): Money.  Rosen has retained fundraising staff and formed a sophistical press/media operation.  The challenge in the coming weeks will be implementation of the ground game and raising money.

Handicapping this race, Wasserman would have been the capable sleeper -- if not for his registration as a Democrat -- and Whalen could have split the Republican base against Rosen.  The mystery candidate now is Gillespie, who demonstrated last night just how much of a political punch a pro-life stand can deliver with Republicans.  Russell will remain in the race, claiming that 30-35% of the general election vote without money is the best bang for the buck.

The problem for Russell and all the other candidates is that the remaining 15-25% against Nita Lowey can cost as much as $2 million dollars in television media and direct mail.

17th Congressional District (Eliot Engel)

With less than $200,000 on hand, Engel is in no position to be challenged by a Bronx Latino.  But that's precisely who he will have running against him if Tony Mele survives the minefields being set for him by Republican insiders in Rockland.

Mele was not invited to a candidates forum in Clarkstown last week.  He has been pressured to withdraw from the race and run for the Assembly.  Mele continues to draw the attention of tea party members throughout the Hudson Valley and he resonates extremely well with Conservatives in Westchester and the Bronx.

York Kleinhandler of West Nyack, a Green Beret and local business who is also Chief Warrant Officer is being aggressively touted as the frontrunner by Republicans to secure the GOP nomination in the 17th Congressional district.

The third name mentioned as a challenger to Engel is Brigadier General John Cornelius. Cornelius has lived in Suffern since 1983 but has not announced a formal candidacy.  The Rockland Times noted that all three men are not just veterans, but career military men.

The Rockland Times noted the split-personality of Engel's fiefdom,

"It’s a district that’s been under Eliot Engel’s control for 9 terms, and some would argue a district gerrymandered beyond recognition, composing portions of the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland.  As Engel celebrates his party’s victory on the health reform, the GOP is strategizing how to run a strong race against a man who commonly defeats his opponents by more than three to one. Even Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, barely mustered 33% against Engel when he ran against him in 2004."

Republicans fail against Engel due to some of the machinations presently working against Tony Mele.

What's wrong with a Bronx-born Latino running for Congress in both Rockland and the Bronx?

Cornelius, Kleinhandler and Mele have to raise money.

19th Congressional District (John Hall)

Putnam resident and Yorktown businessman Tom DeChiaro is showing up for the candidates forum for the 19th this evening in Putnam County at Villa Barone on Route 6 in Mahopac. DeChiaro's problems with the Yorktown political machine in recent years has turned him into a voice for reform.  His message is sure to resonate with those fighting political manipulations from Bedford to Brewster. 

Orange County native David McFadden has to show a strong FEC filing and make a compelling argument as an independent against John Hall.  McFadden has personalized his stands on the issues effectively.  He's brought the issues home, as they say.  McFadden is not likely to disappoint.

Fellow Orange County native Kristia Cavere will find herself head-to-head against Westchester resident Nan Hayworth.  Hayworth could spend the entire evening fending off questions on abortion.  Cavere could find herself tagged as inexperienced and unprepared, except it is ironic that Hayworth has a harder time fielding questions at times than the former Pentagon analyst.  Cavere needs a breakout moment this evening.

Neil Di Carlo claims God told him to run -- and is expected to over-talk as a political rainmaker to the point of surreality.  Di Carlo's enthusiasm for democracy is welcomed but his over-the-top religious zeal is starting to make some uncomfortable.  Though he brings an everyman's "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" perspective to the interviews, his presence in the race will be marginalized by his overtly-religious approach.

Tonight could be make or break for Nan Hayworth, who must do two things:  (1) She must address the abortion clinic controversy, and (2) the Mount Kisco moderate needs her own breakout moment.

With DeChiaro as an intriguing wildcard, anything is possible this evening -- and either Hayworth or Cavere could finally take the gloves off in front of Republican leaders.

New York Republicans Aim At Tuesday's Special Elections: Proving November Was No Fluke

Democrats are pulling out the liberal guns in New York's sleepy suburbs to stave off any further tea party upsets.

House Reps. Nita Lowey and John Hall know what is at stake in New York City's suburbs.

Three of four special elections for State Assembly seats are expected to be won by Republicans, due to a growing tea party presence in Westchester and Long Island.

David Singer of Scarsdale offers an insightful analysis in The Huffington Post, aptly entitled "Reading The Tea (bagger) Leaves ..."

Republican Michael Montesano is expected to win Nassau County's 15th Assembly District, as is Democrat David Weprin in Queens County's 24th in a perennial liberal bastion.  However, Suffolk's District 3 with Republican Dean Murray against Democrat Lauren Thorden and Westchester's 89th with Republican Bob Castelli against Democrat Peter Harckham could score additional victories for the G.O.P. that would have been political funerals in previous years.

In Westchester, a win would be further vindication for that county Republican organization:

"The Democrats have a 10,000 registered voter edge over the Republicans, but in a special election all bets are off. Harckham and Castelli are known in the northern Westchester part of the district -- but have limited name recognition in the higher-populated southern end. This too is a jump ball and will depend on the GOTV effort waged by each candidate."

Sources have told News Copy that Congressman John Hall has dedicated his staff and himself to helping the Democrat win in the lower reaches of his own 19th Congressional District.  It's also no surprise to learn that former Congresswoman Sue Kelly and her husband were manning the phones for Castelli.

"A victory by Castelli would prove last year's landslide by Rob Astorino in Westchester was no fluke.  It would change the assessment by donors and national Republicans alike on dozens of state legislative and congressional races throughout New York and the northeast."

At stake is a vulnerable spike in the heart of a liberal "gentry" region that Democrats in New York or federally cannot afford to lose any ground.  The bottom line is that a victory by Castelli would prove that last year's landslide by Rob Astorino (57-43%) to become county executive was no fluke.  It would also change the assessment by donors and national Republicans alike on dozens of state legislative and congressional races throughout New York and the northeast.

"... If the Republicans take back AD#3 with Murray and AD#89 with Castelli, this will be a sign of trouble for the Democratic party up and down the line, likely accelerating the exit of David Paterson from the gubernatorial race, and indicating better odds to the Republicans retaking control of the State Senate in November."

These special elections are the game changer in a state supposedly claimed by liberal Democrats....

The Yonkers Tribune covered Harckham being endorsed by eleven-term incumbent Nita Lowey, whose 18th Congressional District covers the lower portion of the 89th, and Hall, whose 19th Congressional District covers most of northern Westchester.