It’s over for Vito Fossella and the NY-13 is about to be open to a special election, according to WNBC.
Several top New York Republicans said that Congressman Vito Fossella’s resignation will come within the next 72 hours — if not late Friday then certainly by Monday.
There was political concern about how best to preserve the seat for the Republicans — questions about immediate resignation versus finishing out his term and retiring — but the calculation is there’s nothing to be gained from Fossella sticking around. While Staten Island Republicans believe Fossella could at least serve out his term (the rest of the year) national Republicans want him gone. Now.
The Democratic lead in the House has been growing since the dramatic 2006 election results and 2008 looks increasingly difficult for the GOP. Twenty -seven incumbent Republican House members are retiring this year including two in New York State and two in New Jersey. By historical standards that is a huge number and it’s significant because open seats are relatively rare and present the best opportunity for either party to flip seats. Republican seats in the Northeast are at the most risk since the region has turned pretty reliably Democratic in this decade.
Battlestations, everyone. We better recruit and get in gear to make make New york City 100% blue.
[UPDATE]
This may be an indicator
Embattled Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) will not have to appear in an Alexandria, Va., court on Monday to answer charges stemming from his drunken driving arrest last week because his attorney has already waived his right for a preliminary hearing and scheduled a trial date, a court official said Friday.
Fossella’s trial has been set for June 26.
Events are moving swiftly but I’ll do my best to keep up.
Why stop with Childers? Hopefully we can recruit a strong candidate here.