I’m as surprised as anyone about Alice Kryzan‘s upset win in NY-26, but while this is an uphill fight, we definitely still have a chance here. The only way we can do this, though, is if Democrats at all levels come together to support our nominee. The DCCC immediately jumped on board, and the Working Families Party has already pledged to back Kryzan despite the ballot situation, saying that they “play to win.” But Jon Powers for some reason has not:
As we are still on the ballot as the nominee for the Working Families Party, my family and team are currently deciding how best to proceed.
If Crazy Jack Davis had won the primary, Powers might have had a shadow of chance running on the WFP line. But with Kryzan on the ticket, Powers can only play spoiler. For a likeable, young guy with a bright future in politics, anything less than a full-throated endorsement would be an error.
According to the New York Times, there are only three ways a candidate can remove himself from the ballot: die, move out of state, or get nominated for a judgeship. Theoretically, that last avenue is still possible, but Powers isn’t an attorney, and I wouldn’t ask him to submit to something so ridiculous. (Though the corrupt schmucks who run New York’s judicial “elections” would probably go along with such a scheme – after all, Supreme Jerkward Antonin Scalia ruled just this year that the “smoke-filled rooms” which rule this process “have long been an accepted manner of selecting party candidates.”)
Anyhow, this obstacle is why it’s crucial for Powers to come out strongly for Kryzan right away – votes on the WFP line can only hurt us now. Even the WFP itself acknowledges that. I supported Jon Powers in the primary, and I know he’s already done a lot for the Democratic Party. This is the last thing I’d ask him to do this cycle. We can win this, but we’ve all got to do it together.
UPDATE: This Roll Call piece suggests that EMILY’s List may soon get involved.
I was a big Powers supporter. I wish he had won. But he didn’t. I hope he shows the same class Hillary Clinton did.
If Kryzan loses then he should run again. If she wins Powers lives in a Dem registration majority district that’s represented by a Republican. I think he’d be a prime candidate to win that seat in 2010. He’s still quite young. Kryzan looks pretty old. He’d be a natural candidate whenever she retired or if she lost ever. He’s going places.
Please endorse Kryzan Jon.
can he, like, “move” out of state for a few weeks? go on a vacation or something. seems totally out there and all, but i’d be curious, haha.
When there is a three-way race and two of the three attack each other with hammer and tongs, quite often they destroy each other and the third candidate, being seen as above the fray, emerges victorious. This was the path that led both Russ Feingold and Carol Moseley-Braun to their initial senatorial victories.
Ambition is important, but the ability to set your own needs and desires aside to advance the greater good is a key component of the Democratic worldview. I think it’s clear that in this situation, Powers needs to act in the appropriate and reasonable way that a good team player would, and die for the Party.
Hara-kiri would be overdoing it; after all, he was the innocent victim of Jack Davis. Something more like laying down his life for his Party; maybe staging a big victory parade for Alice Kryzan, in which she drives over his body with her campaign bus, en route to a victory rally. No WFP line! Democrats united again! Long live the (remaining) Democrats!
It’s really the least we can ask of him. If he cooperates, maybe he’ll get a good job in Obama’s administration afterwards.
… but sometimes these guys need a couple days to come to terms with the loss. I’m sure he expected to lose to Davis if anyone and this is a bit of a shock. He’ll probably make the right move, but I suspect he’s feeling a little lost right now. He poured his heart and soul into this.
Anesthetic, you’re correct too but I think that would look back if/when he moves back into the district for 2010. If he tells his supporters not to vote for him, his presence on the ballot won’t make too much difference.
Just wondering what criteria will be used for inclusion in the debate. Know the ground rules are up to sponsors to set and campaigns to make the decision to participate or not.
But, Lord, imagine the freak show the debate will be if everyone with a ballot line is there! Since I am way out of market, I sure hope they re-run it on CSPAN.
And one general comment, Kryzan’s take-it-somewhere-else ad sounds like a stroke of genius. And a perfect fit with a strategy to slip right past two other candidates picnicking on each other in a three-way. I love using humor in attack ads. Makes the point in a way that people do not tune out and makes them like the person doing the whacking. Lot better than the blowback from some voiceover making overblown accusations in a stern, mildly outraged tone.
is the ad has to actually be funny. Attempting humor and failing ends up blowing back worse than simply going negative.
Try and fail to be funny and folks just think you are a jackass.