With Vito Fossella out of the race, the NY-13 district is becoming more and more attractive to some of the stronger potential Democratic candidates. According to the New York Times Assemblyman Mike Cusick and City Councilman Michael McMahon are expressing their clear interest in running.
Shortly after Mr. Fossella announced his decision Tuesday, two Democrats from Staten Island said they were interested in the seat: Councilman Michael E. McMahon, who has represented northern Staten Island since 2002, and Michael Cusick, a state assemblyman who represents an area in the center of the island.
“I am having earnest discussions with the other folks who are interested and the county leaders in Staten Island and Brooklyn,” Mr. McMahon said Tuesday. “I’m hopeful that we can come to a decision very quickly. Because of the short time frame, it’s important that we unite around a candidate rather than having a primary fight.”
Similarly, Mr. Cusick said that “ultimately, the goal is to win in November” and that “it would be preferable not to have a primary and for the Democrats to work things out.”
THe article says nothing about Dianne Savino entering the race. It looks like a good situation for the DCCC. Their top two recruits clearly want to avoid a tough primary and are willing to sit and work things out, although I don’t know if Harrison shares that sentiment. Of the two, I think Cusick may be the stronger. He is an honorary member of the Fraternal Order of Police, represents part of Staten Island and his ties to Charlie Schumer will make it easy to raise a lot of money in a short time. Savino may be stronger on paper but her running would put her state senate seat at risk when we are trying to flip the chamber. Hopefully, everything will work itself out soon.
state senate in New York. Elliot Spitzer tried to get gay marriage passed via legislature, and he would have if it were not for the senate Republicans.
We beat them there, we take gay marriage to state #3.