News Copy, New York

Tea Party Groups Rallying To Support Candidates: Battle With NY GOP Establishment To Get On Ballot?

The Wall Street Journal reported that tea party groups in New York State are out there getting their candidates on the ballot.

"Everybody is focused on the petitions," said Bill Bongiorno, co-founder of the Northern Westchester Tea Party Patriots and the campaign manager for Steve Katz, a tea-party candidate for state Assembly. "We see what the Democrats are but we hoped the Republicans were different....They want to shut people out," he said.

It's hard work.  Done in the hot weather in the already busy month of June, getting a candidate on the ballot is a difficult task for most challengers.

That means finding volunteers who can carry petitions, going door-to-door everyday, meeting with voters, getting signatures on those petitions -- and making certain those petitions survive multiple legal challenges ... from Republican Party leaders (depending on the county).

Yes ... The conservative tea party movement is civically engaged on campaigns -- with parts of New York's Republican establishment fighting them every step of the way.

One would thnk that the natural ally for tea party volunteers would have been the Republican Party -- but the State GOP rejected some of their favorite candidates and some county committees around the state rejected their Congressional and State Legislative candidates.

On a personal note, I found myself physically shook down by a county chair for speaking up for the Conservative Party and defending Congressional candidate Tony Mele (pictured to the right).  In New York, the political lesson seems to be that you can find yourself threatened with a "Bronx beating" by one of the State GOP leaders if you don't follow lockstep like a good Nazi.

And this is happening all over New York State, not as much the physical violence but the willful machinations to ignore the consensus of the people.

It seems like Republicans are allowing repeats of last year's 23rd Congressional race, where Doug Hoffman was rebuffed by county GOP leaders in upstate New York.

Like Mr. Hoffman, Carl Paladino, the Buffalo businessman and gubernatorial candidate whose support is primarily in the conservative grass-roots, was also denied the Republican ballot. He, too, is in the process of mounting a petition battle to fight it out with former U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio in the primary. Former Republican congressman Joe DioGuardi, who represented New York's 20th Congressional District, also failed to get GOP backing in his bid to topple Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He's also trying to get on the Republican ballot through a petition.

Anthony Mele, a former Ramapo radio-show host and a leader of the Rockland County tea-party group, hoped to run against Rep. Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.) for the congressional district representing the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland counties, but was also rejected by the Republican leadership.

DioGuardi, Paladino, Mele and Katz are all pro-life conservative Republicans but what they have in common is an independent streak from the standard political establishment.

Though a former Congressman, DioGuardi was always regarded as a fiscal maverick in Congress 20 years ago -- first warning the nation about the escalating Federal debt before anyone was paying attention.

DoGuardi was disregarded at the State GOP convention but polls continue to show him overwhelmingly leading a three-way Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Mele is a former U.S. Army veteran whose choice to run for Congress was counter to the designs of Rockland Republican County Chairman Vincent Reda, who is also the State GOP's First Vice Chair (and also the leader who threatened me with a "Bronx beating").

Mele is on track to raise as much money as the 11-term incumbent in the 17th Congressional District, Democrat Eliot Engel.  More important, Mele as a tea party leader in lower New York State is drawing grass-roots support to wage three primaries in September.

Steve Katz is a veterinarian, the true outsider and non-politician.

Running for the 99th Assembly District, the Yorktown resident found himself in the cross-hairs of a deal by State Senate Republicans that handed the nomination to his primary opponent.

He responded by wiping himself off and preparing for what he originally expected would be the outcome -- Republican and Conservative primaries.

Katz has teamed closely with Assemblyman Greg Ball -- who is primarying the State Senate Republican's pick for the 40th S.D.

Ball has won two Republican primaries over the past two election cycles, so he thrives on this stuff.

Katz with Ball will rely on a local grass-roots operation in the mid-Hudson Valley that draws tremendously from tea party groups.

The truth is that the Katz campaign welcomes the challenge and the primary.

It's a part of the tea party mission that political parties haven't entirely grasped yet.

They welcome a good ol' fashioned patriotic rebellion.

And Paladino?

The Buffalo millionaire is the bull in the china shop -- but people in New York State are craving a Chris Christie type candidate.

Paladino's no-nonsense "coach potato with an attitude" approach is the wild card in this election.

So far, the Paladino fervor hasn't translated in the polls -- but the petition teams coming together statewide indicate a larger movement is brewing.

Typical of the message being driven by these candidates has been Paladino's grass-roots approach to drawing the support of volunteers both for a Republican line and the creation of a tea party line.

Debates still exist within tea party groups about endorsing candidates, so the jury is still out on the outsider movement.

Bil Bongiorno spoke optimistically for Katz campaign a few days ago

"We are close to having the minimum number in just five days of gathering signatures.  The Westchester Independence Party has endorsed Katz.  Our yard signs are out and money is flowing into the campaign.  We are in great shape."

So perhaps the lesson to political parties would be to tap the tea party's enthusiasm.

Sadly, such lessons are not easily learned by political establishments.

As for these challenger's opponents, News Copy has chosen for just this post to omit their names -- as did the Wall Street Journal article for the most part.

The challengers deserve their day in the sun too, especially in a state where the political establishment frowns on the "status quo" being taken to task.

It appears that this year's petition season is going to change all that in New York.

DioGuardi Still Leading U.S. Senate Primary 3-1: Siena Poll Shows Statewide Democrats Slipping

Joe DioGuardi is still way out in front of Bruce Blakeman by a 3-1 margin and David Malpass by a 7-1 margin in a Republican U.S. Senate primary, according to this morning's Siena Poll on statewide races.

This is vindication for DioGuardi, who was unfairly snubbed by a contrarian margin at the State GOP Convention -- and again at the State Independence Party Convention (Kirsten Gillibrand won that endorsement).

The Westchester Republican has been campaigning intensely throughout New York State.

DioGuardi has reached out to parts of upstate New York and conservative voting blocks who rarely get to see a true red meat pro-life conservative Republican running statewide -- and they like it.

Pictured with Joe is Jim Kelly, a Conservative leader who helped the former Congressman barnstorm the state.

Head to head, DioGuardi trails Gillibrand by 18 points.

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Notable details of the poll:

Andrew Cuomo's favorables are down eight points -- and the Democratic nominee has lost six points against Rick Lazio.

But Cuomo still leads Lazio by over a 2-1 margin.  The Long Island Republican is still stuck at 24 percent.

No bump off the State GOP Convention?

In a Republican primary, Lazio leads Paladino 45-18.

DioGuardi had his own bounce, grabbing eight more points against Gillibrand -- though the Democrat still leads that race 47-29.  Gillibrand leads Blakeman, 47-29, and Malpass, 49-24, with all three Republicans gaining ground on her.

As for State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli against Republican Harry Wilson, Capitol Confidential noted that DiNapoli has failed to resonate with voters,

"There’s trouble for incumbent comptroller Tom DiNapoli. After nearly four years in office, just 23 percent of voters are prepared to re-elect him compared to “someone else.” This statistic, the ‘re-elect number’ is often a good barometer of incumbent strength, with 40 percent being a magical threshold at this stage of things. When matched against Harry Wilson, the hedge fund manager who is DiNapoli’s Republican opponent, DiNapoli wins 42-23. But 36 percent of voters remain undecided, a dangerous swing block."

The New York Daily News blog, Daily Politics, picked up on another problem for Democrats -- and problems for Republicans.

Cuomo's losing ground with independents but has the support of 80 percent of Democrats against either Lazio or Paladino

“As Andrew Cuomo continues to dominate the political scene in New York - and his potential opponents - his still commanding lead has fallen to its lowest level ever, while his favorability rating has fallen below 60 % for the first time in a year and a half,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg. “Cuomo’s 59 to 26 % favorability rating is still the strongest of any New York pol, however, there’s been a negative 13-point swing from the 67 to 21 % favorability rating voters gave him three weeks ago.

Added Greenberg: “Cuomo maintains big leads over both Republicans. Although his lead among independent voters fell by about 20 points against both, neither Lazio nor Paladino wins a majority of Republicans against Cuomo, who has the support of at least 80 % of Democrats against either Republican.”

I somehow find it hard to believe that even Andrew Cuomo will have the support of at least 80 percent of Democrats by Election Day.

Why Kirsten Gillibrand Is Not Important: New York's Junior U.S. Senator Clueless To Fiscal Crisis

  Joe DioGuardi was with Sean Hannity last night on FOX News ...

... Talking about oil and municipal debt.

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Kirsten Gillibrand was featured today on The Huffington Post ...

... Writing about overhauling food safety laws.

Gillibrand's political background is all about Albany yet she seems clueless to New York's fiscal problems.

Democrats can only play dumb for so long.

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While Republicans Bruce Blakeman and David Malpass are designated to run on a GOP U.S. Senate Primary, DioGuardi must get sigatures to be on the September 14th ballot.

DioGuardi thrives on such fights and should be well-regarded in this year of Republican reformers.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the divisive primary.

"Mr. DioGuardi has already won the backing of the state Conservative Party. Historically, that party's line on the ballot has been critical to Republicans winning statewide office.

All of which means the Republicans close their convention with deep internal divisions rather than coordinated opposition to the state's top elected officials, who are Democrats."

Joe DioGuardi has vowed to stay on the Conservative line until November, setting the stage for a three-way race if Malpass or Blakeman win the Republican primary in September.

After months of lobbying Independence Party leaders, DioGuardi was bypassed at the State Convention and not even given an opportunity to speak.

The Independence Party gave their line to Gillibrand.

Meanwhile, neither Malpass nor Blakeman have a minor party line -- and there are a lot of Tea Party organizers (particularly a substantial cross-section of the pro-life community) who would like to see DioGuardi take that line.

Dan Senor Out, Malpass Has $1 Million: DioGuardi On Track To Secure Nod Against Gillibrand

With Dan Senor out of the race, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi could have an open road to secure all three lines by June to challenge U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

David Malpass has upped the stakes, donating $1 million of his own money to his race.  DioGuardi has only $100,000 on hand -- but few doubt the Bronx-born CPA's ability to raise money.

Former Nassau County lawmaker Bruce Blakeman is still in the race but sources within the Conservative Party insist that he been put up to run by former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato to help Gillibrand.

DioGuardi is focusing on barnstorming the state to secure so far nearly 20 endorsements from county committees around New York.  DioGuardi is New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long's pick to run for U.S. Senate against Gillibrand.  He is also by every indication going to be the Independence Party's candidate -- and Senor's departure removes what had been the last obstacle to courting the State GOP.

No sooner had Senor exited the race, Politics on the Hudson reported that Malpass had put $1 million of his own money into his race.

Painted as a D.C. insider, Dan Senor had been expected to challenge Gillibrand.  The rabid word of mouth out of D.C. for Senor had started to make DioGuardi look more like an outside than a former House member.

The outsider tag probably helps DioGuardi in this election.

The Daily Politics reported that Senor's campaign was supposed to announce this week.

Business Week reported Malpass formally announcing just as Senor departed.

DioGuardi expects a challenge to Gillibrand will require as much as $10 million.  With Senor out, the Republican nomination won't be as costly -- but any September primary would delay DioGuardi, Malpass or Blakeman drawing national money for the November contest.

DioGuardi has already secured the endorsement of his home county, Westchester, and Conservatives in that suburb of New York City are supporting him.  Republican candidates don't win statewide without Westchester in tow.

DioGuardi Declares for U.S. Senate In New York: Gillibrand Facing Fiscal Conservative With A Bronx Cheer

Joe DioGuardi declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate today, with the expectation of securing the Conservative and Independence Party lines by May.

Grand Central Terminal hosted DioGuardi's announcement and he had been on Fox and Friends this morning.

DioGuardi also projected he could raised a minimum of $10 million against Kirsten Gillibrand, whose embattled stances with Democrats and Republicans alike has earned her the nickname of "flip-flip" all over New York State.

Reuters and the Associated Press framed this as "Kara's dad" goes to Washington -- but DioGuardi is a former Congressman (1985-1989).

He was the youngest partner in the history of the accounting profession, a Knight of Malta and one of the first (and few) practicing Certified Public Accountants ever elected to Congress.

Bottom line:  DioGuardi's credentials with the New York State Conservative Party are top-notch.

He is also extremely well-liked by Independence Party leaders.  Reliable sources close to the Conservative Party counted 18 endorsements from party chairs or committees.

And the real measurable sense is that State GOP chair Ed Cox also respects DioGuardi -- and for reasons a lot of insiders won't admit openly.

In New York, those who have been betrayed by the prior political establishments remains an exclusive (but growing) club.  Cox and DioGuardi are survivors.  There's an empathy here that D'Amato, Inc. can't diminish.

Finally, DioGuardi never sold out as a D.C. lobbyist, never cashed in as a D.C. insider (Joe's always been the consumate "OUTSIDER") -- and this hyperbolic type-a self-starter can raise money -- along with being a team player for a lot of Republicans around New York State.

DioGuardi's brings a Bronx cheer with an attitude.

Newsday emphasized DioGuardi's finanical acumen.

Most New York news outlets won't take Kara DioGuardi's father seriously until the country sees him a few times on national news shows.  One of the reasons New York State is in such bad shape is that the news media here has an insider's habit of discounting anyone daring to disagree with the establishment.

The Daily News covered Kara but was only due to the first volley of questions being about DioGuardi's daughter.

As would be expected by the liberal New York press, Gawker beat up BOTH DioGuardi and his daughter.

"Kara, one of the most obviously insecure people on television, is a judge on the popular television show American Idol, where she is generally considered an unpleasant usurper whose need for attention constantly distracts from the performances of the actual contestants."

Kara DioGuardi was a Duke University graduate with honors -- successful in the publishing industry with Billboard magazine, highly respected in the music industry as a songwriter and singer (literally one of the key "go to" people in music studios around the world) and already one of the single most recognizable (and beloved) faces in the music business BEFORE she joined American Idol.

New York Magazine called Joe DioGuardi's step into statewide campaign an audition -- but gave him a fair shake.

He's a certified CPA and a government-spending watchdog, and sounded a lot like a die-hard tea partier when he announced his candidacy at Grand Central Station this morning. "Are you ready to take your country back!?!" he shouted. "The new tyranny is Washington and Albany!"

News Copy will have more about the other candidates in this race at a later date, including David Malpass and Dan Senor.

Harry Wilson Running For New York State Comptroller: Joining Growing Downstate G.O.P. Slate

Westchester County resident and Rob Astorino ally Harry Wilson has formally declared his candidacy for New York State Comptroller.

Wilson is also getting major support from John Faso, who many wanted to see run again for Comptroller or Congress.

The New York Daily News reported on Wilson's announcement and his steady pace of endorsements.

"He's poised to receive the support of the Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Montgomery GOP county chairs this evening ...

"Wilson's campaign also announced today that he has landed the backing of the Westchester, Rockland and Fulton GOP chairs. Wilson, who is being billed by the campaign as a "restructuring expert," was raised in Fulton County (Johnstown)."

Wilson was an integral part of the transition team for newly elected Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Obviously, the strength of Astorino's win in Westchester -- coupled now with two statewide candidates (Wilson and expected U.S. Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi) out of that county and Rick Lazio's gubernatorial run (joined by Bruce Blakeman out of Long Island for U.S. Senate) -- should give suburban and downstate Republicans a renewed rallying cry.

Rockland Tea Party Holds Civic Conference: Cold Shoulder From Palisades Mall

"It's not what we oppose," explained Rockland County Tea Party organizer Anthony Mele. "It's what we are for."

Despite the Palisades Center not allowing the Rally for America to gather at the Nanuet mall, Rockland County was host to a well received "Blueprint for Change" on President's Day.

A few hundred well-intetended citizens held what organizers call a civic conference at the Comfort Inn in Nanuet.

Mele and others, including former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, explained that people are worried about over-taxing, over-spending and government over-reaching into their lives.

Moderated by a group called Conserveality, the day included panel discussions on grass-roots planning, galvanizing the voters, how to become more politically active in the coming elections with campaigns -- and joining political parties as committee members/district leaders.

Above is the welcome video that started the conference and below are some clips from the entire conference.

The conference had only one flashpoint.  Some discussion of social conservative issues in a news story one week prior to the conference prompted this letter to the editor by Joseph DiToma of Pearl River in the local Gannett newspaper disagreeing with a Rockland lawmaker.

The comments of Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco that "many are concerned about gay marriage and abortion" is precisely the kind of comment that is meant to cause division in an otherwise noble cause ...

... Gay marriage, abortion, etc., these are not our concern. Our concern is to take back our government, abolish the 16th and 17th amendments and reinstate the Constitution as our basis of law. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from our quest ...

Tea party groups appear divided on more than just the social issues, including territorial fights and resistance to endorsing any candidate (or getting involved in any political party).  However, today's conference in Rockland had no revealed controversies or disagreements.  Much like the Founding Fathers they tend to emulate, this is not a one size fits all movement -- nor are these true patriots afraid of dissent.

Former New York Congressman Joe DioGuardi To Declare For U.S. Senate: Another Gillibrand Challenger

Joe DioGuardi's in, not formally declared, but the tea party community has been told that he is running for U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.

The former two-term Congressman revealed his intentions to a crowd of nearly 300 people in Nanuet at the Regency Hotel.

Gillibrand also faces possible challenges from publisher Mort Zuckerman, Republican Bruce Blakeman and Democrat Harold Ford.

DioGuardi spoke at the tea party conference in Rockland County today, where the "first practicing CPA elected to Congress" was welcomed for his expertise on fiscal reform.

Usually, the tea party movement can be a bit reticent to promote a candidate.  But DioGuardi has been "walking the walk" on reforming the budget process longer than most elected officials throughout the nation, particularly through his work with the good government organization Truth In Government.

Daily Kos did a quick overview on the race two weeks ago:

"Undecided is the big winner in a contest with Ford and Blakeman, with Ford leading 35-26. Meanwhile, another Republican might be getting into the game, with the news that former Congressman and perennial candidate Joe DioGuardi is thinking about getting into the race. DioGuardi, 69, served in Congress for two terms way back in the 1980s, and is a favorite of the Conservative and Right To Life Parties."

DioGuardi will be formidable, as a speaker and a fundraiser.  He is reaching out to county leaders, hustling to secure the Conservative line and has been received well by State GOP leaders.

Sources within the Conservative Party are complaining that Blakeman was only brought into the race as a foil for former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato -- whose lobbying hooks into Gillibrand though her father, Doug Rutnik, should only be viewed as a conflict of interest.

Blakeman's prior political incarnation during Long Island's fiscal collapse a decade ago might also be held against him -- but he gave a great speech to Conservatives on Homeland Security. 

DioGuardi's own speech to Conservatives on the national debt was acknowledged as the best speech of the New York State Conservative Party's Political Action Conference.

DioGuardi's own foreign policy experience throughout the Balkans will give the two-term Congressman an edge in this race, though early polls indicate the dominating issues will be fiscal.

The Bronx born Italian-American CPA, who was the youngest partner in history of Arthur Andersen 40 years ago (when it was still considered "the marines of the accounting profession"), excelled as a human rights activist for the Albanians.

A good friend of News Copy over the years, DioGuardi was ahead of his time never cashing in as a lobbyist and was maintaining a modest profile as a citizen activist long before the tea party movement was started.

Of course, DioGuardi is also the proud father of American Idol's Kara DioGuardi -- which means the Internet's search engines are probably going to be busier than usual this election cycle.

Gillibrand's in for a long hot summer.

New York's 19th Congressional Getting More Crowded: Pro-life Movement Flexing Muscles

Since Barack Obama only won New York's 19th Congressional District 52-48%, two-term incumbent 
Democrat John Hall has to be feeling the heat.  News Copy has learned that the names of at least eight Republicans and one Conservative are being floated for this House seat, including four each from Orange and Westchester counties.

The consistent word from all sources, from most partly leaders and particularly from people "on the ground" is that Nan Hayworth is still not resonating, despite confirmed stories that she is pressuring committee by committee for early endorsements.  Also, Conservatives and Republicans alike understand that the 19th is one of those rare districts in New York tailor made for a true conservative Republican.

And pro-life candidates are stepping forward, partly in protest but also somewhat curious that they can be the next Scott Brown.  It won't be that simple or easy in New York.

Last week, a story broke about a Yorktown (and D.C.) native named Tom DeChiaro "mulling" a run against Democrat Nan Hall in New York's 19th Congressional District.  The North County News quoted DeChiaro taking an openly pro-life stance.

DeChiaro, who is Catholic, said his beliefs will guide him when it comes to making decisions about policy.

“If you are a candidate who believes in the sanctity of life, you have to vote based on your belief, or you have no integrity. When it comes to core values, you can’t have a give and take.”

DeChiaro join Di Carlo in taking an open stance against abortion.  It is speculated that other pro-life candidates are lining up, possibly Conservative Avery Leidner out of Orange County and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, who lives less than a mile outside the district in Ossining (though News Copy can confirm DioGuardi's interest could be either statewide or again challenging eleven term incumbent Democrat Nita Lowey in the 18th Congressional in lower Westchester).

Orange County Republicans are expected to make their presence known in this race, especially since it is the largest and more dominant Republican portion of the 19th.  Former Tuxedo Mayor David McFadden has declared with $100,000 on hand but the Times Herald-Record reported that he is already catching criticism from Nan Hayworth's campaign -- for his party registration (or lack thereof).

Jay Townsend, a consultant for Republican rival Nan Hayworth's campaign, responded to the announcement by revealing that McFadden isn't registered as a Republican – he has no party affiliation – and that he recently had a $21,441 tax lien filed against him, in addition to past tax problems.

McFadden “hasn't cared enough to register in the Conservative or Republican parties,” Townsend said. “Nor has he cared enough about our community to even pay his taxes and honor his obligations.”

This already has the feel of a competitive primary shaping up.

The North County News blog argued that a primary in the 19th would not help Republicans.

"... The lesson has not been lost on the state Republican party regarding the Democrats winning the Republican stronghold of upstate New York District 23 last November, another humiliating defeat for the old-guard GOP."

It was a liberal Republican endorsing the Democrat that cost Conservative Douglas Hoffman the primary, not the actual primary.

The other possible candidates in the race remain under the political radar or have not formally declared, though numerous sources comfirm that another wealthy candidate is weighing the option of a run and at least another "true conservative" is being courted by Republicans.