Tedesco Loosing Steam

It’s politics as usual in the race to replace Gillabrand. – Or is it! Republican insiders are shaking their heads lately with the poor performance of Jim Tedisco. Jim’s having a hard time balancing being Minority Leader in the Assembly and being a Congressional candidate.

Internal polls are showing a very weak “Jimmy T” In fact His numbers are soooo bad, former Governor George Pataki and RNC Chair Steele have asked Jimmy to step down from his Assembly post to dedicate more timne to his candidacy. Rightly so, Jimmy’s conference is in no hurry to replace him. They do not want to strain any relationships with the leader.

Jimmy’s first mistake was to underestimate his opponent. Mistake number 2 was to go so negative so quick. There was no need to do so. Jimmy should run on his record and smashing his opponent. Let the NRCC smash your opponent. Don’t have it come from you. Stupid mistake!

Time will tell.

Date Set: Tedisco and Murphy Out Of The Gate

The special election for the open 20th Congressional District seat is tentatively planned for March 31 according to Gov. David Paterson.

Both candidates are already up with ads.

Democratic candidate Scott Murphy released a one-minute television ad talking about how his wife is from a dairy farm in Washington County and how their 57 family members get together weekly for Sunday dinner in Hudson Falls.

Republican candidate Jimmy T. released five minute Web video, in which he turns President Obama’s “Yes We Can” campaign message into “Yes we can. But with Asssembyman Jim Tedisco as a congressman, now we will.”

Mr. Murphy wins this round. His ad is much better than Jimmy’s. It is apparent that Jimmy thinks this election will be is a “cake walk”. I have not seen the polls and maybe it is.  Even if it is… I would not underestimate Mr. Murphy or for that matter the voters. They have already proved that they are ”middle ground” Republicans who will vote the other way.

You be the Judge.

Week in Review

This was a bad week for me to be out of town. I see Mondello decided to come out of his hole and was vocal this week. His press release calling on Paterson to set the date for the special election in the 20th Congressional District was appropriate. Apparently, Mr. Mondello has also been talking with Rudy and his camp about running for governor. That’s not a bad move! Joey gets a B this week for his attempts of beinging a chairman.

In other news Michael Steele (the new RNC Chair) was in Albany last Wednesday. He met with Jimmy T. bout the 20th . It was too bad the Albany County GOP or the State GOP could not set up a quick meet and greet for a fundraiser. That would have been really cool.

Who will run for Jimmy’s seat if he wins. My money is on either County Legislator Bob Farley (Sen. Hugh Farley’s son) or Jim Burmaster. If it was up to me, Jim would win hands down. He’s a better candidate for the Republican Party. It’s time to stop the business as usual – sorry Bobby!

According to Liz Benjamin, some push polling is going on in the 20th.

I wonder what fun-filled news will happen this week. We will soon find out.

Ding…Ding…Ding…Round 1 Begins

Now that Gillibrand has been tapped for Hillary Clinton’s seat, the boxing gloves come out. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco has come out swinging strong. On Saturday, Jimmy T. received the endorsement of Saratoga County. Today he seeks endorsements from gun groups. Then there is former Assembly Minority Leader John Faso who also wants the seat. Finally, there is Current State Senator Betty Little who has also thrown her name in the hat.

We are still witnessing business as usual for our Republican County committees. When will they learn? Jasper Nolan, the Saratoga County Republican chair came out early (less than a day) and endorsed Jimmy T. for Gillibrand’s old seat. Jimmy does not even live in the district, although that doesn’t really matter right? 

It is time for the old timers to step aside and let some fresh new blood in who will make better decisions than backing their political friends. Jasper should have waited until the dust settled but then again Jasper probably does not even know what year it is.

 I respect Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco  , but he is way out of his league. Tedisco  has a big mouth, and has not done much as an Assemblyman (mainly due to his minority status). As Assembly leader he ‘s average. His biggest claim to fame is “Buster’s Law” which is a good law but hardly something to run on for Congress. John Faso and Betty Little are much better candidates and are much better suited for Congress. It’s hard to say which one is a better candidate. John Faso in all likely hood could raise more cash. I also think he is extremely smart and would do a great job. Betty Little , on the other hand, is also bright, and she has less political baggage than Faso. She is significantly older which has been a curse lately for Republican candidates. Both are conservative in nature and both would serve us well.

We will find out soon who will win the first round. Jimmy T. is in the lead but for how long? Hopefully some of the other GOP Chairs will not make the same mistake old-timer Jasper Nolan did and throw support behind a long shot. As for Mondello, he should push for either John Faso or Betty Little. Anything else would be business as usual.