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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

NY-29: AFL-CIO Defects to Massa

Posted by James L.

Great news from the Eric Massa Campaign:

For the second time in a week, a major labor organization announced its endorsement of Retired Navy Commander Eric Massa for Congress, switching support from incumbent Randy Kuhl (R, NY-29). The AFL-CIO, a federation of 53 labor unions, made the announcement following its annual meeting in Albany.

The endorsement, a major score for Massa, is another in a growing list of labor organizations, elected officials, and public figures that are endorsing or supporting Massa in his campaign to unseat Kuhl. Just four days ago, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) switched their long-time support from Kuhl to Massa. It is highly unusual for labor organizations to endorse a non-incumbent.

AFL-CIO representative Peggy Costello said, “In years past, we’ve based our endorsements on voting records. Randy Kuhl’s record in the NY State legislature was generally acceptable. In Congress, however, we rate his record as very weak, no more than 35% favorable to labor interests.”

The AFL-CIO assesses legislators based on voting patterns on a list of key issues, including health care, pensions, and public support for higher education, Costello said. “Eric Massa is very strong in all these areas, and Kuhl has consistently failed to deliver.”

Massa undoubtedly has a little extra jump in his step after today. With labor coming onside, Eric is well-positioned to take advantage of the deadly Democratic wave sweeping from Buffalo to Long Island under the Spitzer-Clinton banner.

On the web: Eric Massa for Congress.

(Hat tip to MyDD.)

Posted at 07:48 PM in 2006 Elections - House, New York | Technorati

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Comments

Wow, this is some really big news. I wonder if labor leaders are realizing that supporting Republicans really is not in their long-term interests. And it's not like Kuhl, a freshman, really has some kind of long, Northeast "liberal" Republican history of support for labor.

Posted by: DavidNYC at August 15, 2006 08:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Is my information correct that this is THE most Republican district in New York? What did Bush win by here in 2004?

I think Kuhl's probably more vulnerable that some of the other upstate New York Republicans that the Dems are overly optimistic about unseating, and I recall an internal poll from Massa posted on here that validated that premise. Glad to see the unions aren't as blinded by the bipartisanship luxuries of a previous era as the Rhode Island Sierra Club is. Hopefully, it does Massa some good.

Posted by: Mark at August 15, 2006 09:52 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Mark, you are correct. NY-29 is the most GOP district in the state, followed by NY-26, 20, 19, 24 and 23.

Posted by: DavidNYC at August 15, 2006 10:29 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

But we should qualify that--the 29th may be the most Republican district in NY, but, if you look at all the districts, none of them are deeply Republican. Cook ranks NY-29 as R+5, meaning that, over the past two presidential elections, the district performed an average of 5% more Republican than the national average. We have Democratic Reps in more hostile turf (Matheson, UT-02, R+17 for example), and competitive races in similarly Republican districts. Just take a look here: http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_aug9.pdf

Posted by: James L. at August 15, 2006 10:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Precisely, James. Upstate NY has long had a reputation for being "very" Republican, but while it clearly does lean GOP, it's hardly "very" GOP.

Posted by: DavidNYC at August 15, 2006 10:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

As a union member it is great to see the AFL-CIO break from its tradition of backing the incumbent. I should not be suprised, with labor having its own problems with dissatisfied unions leaving and forming their own CHANGE TO WIN coalition. The AFL-CIO has got to be more agressive and change or more unions will leave for better more effective leadership.

Posted by: Kyle SF at August 16, 2006 12:04 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Off-topic, but which Republican horse should we be rooting for in the NV-02 House race tonight to face Jill Derby in November? With a fraction of the vote in, Dean Heller leads with 38%, followed by Sharron Angle at 33%, and then Dawn Gibbons at 23%. Which would be the most beatable target for Derby?

Posted by: Mark at August 16, 2006 12:08 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I was wondering that myself. This poll from April seems to indicate that Heller is the worst-case scenario for Derby's chances, with Angle (the Club For Growth candidate) offering the tightest race. We'll have to see.

I fully recommend the Gleaner for more local coverage and discussion.

Posted by: James L. at August 16, 2006 12:25 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Mejias and Gillibrand also took AFL-CIO endorsement away from their Republican incumbent counter parts. Very unheard of.

Posted by: jonahinnyc at August 16, 2006 10:32 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Oh, man, Mejias got the AFL-CIO away from Peter King? That's awesome! Seriously, I hope he gets a netroots-endorsed spot.

Posted by: X Stryker at August 16, 2006 11:32 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment