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Tuesday, May 24, 2005

NY: Pirro Being Shoved into a Race, but Which One?

Posted by DavidNYC

The New York Times today makes it sound like Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro is being goaded into running for statewide office, so desperate are the Republicans for what the NYT embarrassingly calls a "high-profile" name. Talk about defining high-profile down. Pirro is a local county DA - quick, can you even name your own DA, let alone one from another part of the state?

More importantly, Pirro's husband was convicted of tax fraud just a few years ago and served a year in the clink. That's one hell of an albatross, especially when you're a freakin' law enforcement official. The GOP is pretending like this problem can be swept under the rug - whatever.

And finally, Pirro has said she'll run for a statewide race, but hasn't even said which one. Pretty bizarro. It could be Attorney General, Governor or Senator. She'd obviously get creamed in either of the last two, but the state GOP fantasizes that her profile will get raised even in a losing effort. Yeah, this kind of thing does happen sometimes - Brian Schweitzer in Montana and Mark Warner both lost before they won. But I think you've got to make it close in order to be considered viable the next time out, and I can't see Pirro's margin even being as small as Dan Quayle's IQ.

The only campaign she might not get Alan Keyed in is the AG race (I'm not so impressed with the current crop of Dems running for the seat). But man, if Stephen Minarik's rising star is someone who, in 2008 or 2010, will be able to say, "I lost the Attorney General's race to Mark Green," then the NY GOP must really enjoy kissing its sister.

Posted at 08:38 AM in New York | Technorati

Comments

I don't agree with your analysis that Pirro is a nobody going nowhere. Before her husband dragged her political ambitions into the grave she was the most up and coming formidable Gop'er in NY State.

Don't count her out. My gut tells me she is back and here to stay. Her name is known statewide and everyone over 30 remembers her. I think Sen. Clinton is safe whoever runs against her. Giuliani included. But it would be a good platform for Pirro to burnish her credentials.

Unless the Democrats can do to her what the Bush's did to another woman in her position (Think Rep. Gerry Ferraro) she will be accepted by upstate and LI voters without hesitation.

If Democrats are smart they will shoot down this trial balloon and bury her with bad publicity before she gets a foothold on this race- otherwise she could be the next big Republican Star in NY State. Weather she wins or not against Sen. Clinton.

Posted by: jj@ThePoliticalMind.com at May 24, 2005 01:47 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Her name is known statewide and everyone over 30 remembers her.

I'm afraid this just isn't true. Quinnipiac did a poll just a few weeks ago. Pirro's favorability rating was a mere 17-4-10 (the last number being "mixed") with a whopping 68% undecided. By contrast, Clinton's was 53-22-19 with only 5% undecided.

Anyone who has an "unknown" rating in the 60 to 70% area is pretty close to a nobody, in my opinion. Certainly, if two-thirds of voters don't know anything about her, I don't think you can claim she is "known statewide."

(Incidentally, in a head-to-head, Clinton beats Pirro in that poll 62-27.)

Posted by: DavidNYC at May 24, 2005 03:30 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

My evidence is only anecdotal for this statement. I am not the Quinnipiac poll. So anecdotally, mostly everyone and their mother I have ever discussed politics with in NY knows who she is. So my point is this, as Democrats- we would be foolish to under estimate her. Let's see what happens.

Posted by: jj@ThePoliticalMind.com at May 24, 2005 10:25 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Pirro has potential. What is certain is that it's brilliant casting by the RSCC. When the GOP is outgunned on policy they can always win by exploitative candidate casting.

These ciphers can cut though demographic blocks and/or win on the "who would you have a beer with" factor.

Posted by: dereau at May 28, 2005 02:24 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I never heard of Pirro. Can't say she's known statewide.

Posted by: Falcon4e at May 28, 2005 03:31 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment