Author: RandySF

I just wanted to pass along some news I got in my email box just now. Betsy Markey has been elected ot receive the $3,000 Progressive Patriot contribution.

Dear Supporter,

Thank you!

Last week we asked for your help to win the Progressive Patriot fund web nomination.  We had an incredible response from our entire list and received enough votes to place a very close third place.   Due to the tremendous turnout for Betsy, Sen. Feingold is sending a $3,000 check today to support our campaign!

As this campaign continues to build momentum I truly appreciate that this is bigger than any one person.  Thank you again!

Betsy Markey

She’s nothing if not organized.

After simmering in the shadows of some of the bigger races for the year, the senate race in North Carolina is gaining national attention and Kay Hagan is gaining widespread praise as a candidate, premiering on Chris Cilliza’s tope ten senate races.

9. North Carolina: We’ve been somewhat slow to come around on this race — North Carolina is, after all, a conservative state. State Sen. Kay Hagan (D) ran a solid primary campaign and gets rave reviews from Democratic operatives who aren’t easily impressed. Democrats are also overjoyed with several polls (of varying credibility) that show Hagan running virtually even with Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R). That seems a bit ambitious but with Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) promising to contest the Tarheel State and Hagan preparing to run a well funded and active campaign, this race could get interesting. (Previous ranking: N/A)

To be honest I wound up forgetting about this one after Mike Easley and Brad Miller declined to run, but Elizabeth Dole’s apparent weakness at this point keeps her from gaining ground. The DSCC is swimming in money and can easily help turn this into a top tier race.

The Cook Political Report’s House editor Davis Wasserman just revised his outlook for Democratic gains and now estimates a 10 to 20 seat pickup for Democrats.

House Editor David Wasserman examines the outlook in the House following the special election outcome in Mississippi’s 1st CD. The Cook Political Report now estimates that Democrats will gain between 10 and 20 seats in the House.

In addition, he has revised the WV-02 race slightly in our favor.

MS-01- Travis Childers- Republican Toss Up to Democratic Toss Up

WV-02- Shelley Moore Capito- Solid Republican to Likely Republican

Good news all around!

For once, John Boehner is not spinning tonight’s result. As a matter of fact, he has issued a warning to fellow House Republcans.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) tonight responded to the MS-01 special election results with this cautionary statement:

“The results in MS-01 should serve as a wake-up call to Republican candidates nationwide. As I’ve said before, this is a change election, and if we want Americans to vote for us we have to convince them that we can fix Washington. Our presidential nominee, Senator McCain, is an agent of change; candidates who hope to succeed must show that they’re willing and able to join McCain in a leading movement for reform. We need to stop wasteful Washington spending, fight and win the war on terror, and stop the largest tax increase in history. That is truly the change the American people deserve — and that is a message on which we can succeed.”

My question of them is whether they are regretting that rally with George Bush.

Republicans are known for playing possom at the end of a cmapaign. They think it is a good way to gin up their vote, so take with a grain of salt, if you will, a report from Chris Cillizza that Republicans are not feeling good about tomorrow’s special election.

Despite the onslaught of spending, knowledgeable sources on both sides of the aisle insist little has changed in the last 21 days. Childers is believed to have a mid single digit lead over Davis with Republican strategists turning pessimistic about their chances in the last 48 hours or so.

Frankly, I don’t feel very good about a mid-single digit lead from such a red district. Obviously it’s going to all come down to who has the best GOTV machine. The DCCC have been investing heavily on phones and field organizing, so that coupled with other factors just might be the endge we need. Fingers crossed.

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.

Repubican House “leadership” have told Vito Fossella that he has until Monday to decide what he wants to do with his future, and according to the New York Daily News running for re-election is not among his options.

GOP leaders gave him until Monday to decide if he was going to step down immediately or retire at the end of his term. “Mr. Fossella is going to have some decisions to make over the weekend,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.

Republican leaders have “lost all faith” in him and are casting around for a successor for the seat the GOP has held for three decades. Leading candidates include state Sen. Andrew Lanza and Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan.

Political observers said his once-promising political career is over. “He’s politically dead. The only thing that hasn’t happened is the autopsy report hasn’t been written,” said political science Prof. Doug Muzzio of Baruch College.

I have said this before and I will say it again. His “second family” issues are not an issue for me. We all do things that complicate our lives. And to Fossella’s credit, it appears that he is making every effort to be in the child’s life. However, the drinking, driving AND abusive behavior to police is a different matter. Is it all bad enough to lose a careers over? I don’t know. He’s not the first member to drive while impaired. But Republicans, having suffered one scandal after another, decided they cannot afford to have him hang around. It’s over for Vito Fossella

Some notable changes. Most prominant right now is that Cook has changed NY-13 from Leans Republican to Tossup. Read below the fold.

House Editor David Wasserman foresees a photo finish in the MS-01 special election scheduled for Tuesday:  If it is true that “time heals all wounds,” Republicans would not be panicking over next week’s north Mississippi special election. Yet, two weeks after Greg Davis (R) finished in second behind Travis Childers (D) in the initial round of balloting, private polls suggest that the needle has not moved and that the party’s chances of holding the seat in the runoff are 50/50 at best.  Click here to read more.

· House Ratings Changes:

AK-AL   Young     Lean Republican to Toss Up

CA-11   McNerney  Lean Democratic to Toss Up

CT-02   Courtney  Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic

FL-21   L. Diaz-Balart  Solid Republican to Likely Republican

FL-24   Feeney   Likely Republican to Lean Republican

KS-02  Boyda     Lean Democratic to Toss Up

KY-03  Yarmuth   Likely Democratic to Lean Democratic

IN-02  Donnelly  Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic

IN-07  Carson    Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic

MI-07  Walberg   Lean Republican to Toss Up

MI-09  Knollenberg  Likely Republican to Lean Republican

MO-06  Graves  Likely Republican to Lean Republican

NY-13  Fossella Likely Republican to Toss Up

NC-11  Shuler  Likely Democratic to Solid Democratic

OH-02  Schmidt  Lean Republican to Likely Republican

OH-14  LaTourette  Likely Republican to Solid Republican

I’ll be up front when I say that I don’t know much about NYC-area politicos beyond Mayor and Congress, but the NY Daily News is reporting that the DCCC is recruiting Assemblyman Mike Cusick to run for what is likely to be an open NY-13 seat.

Crain’s reported this morning that the DCCC has been calling Assemblyman Mike Cusick in hopes of coaxing him into the race. Certain Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are floating Sen. Diane Savino’s name.

Here is what little I could find about Cusick.

Cusick is the son of late New York State Supreme Court Justice Peter P. Cusick and Miriam Cusick and has been a lifelong resident of Staten Island (he currently lives in Silver Lake, Staten Island). He has two brothers.

Shortly after graduating from Villanova University in 1991, Cusick began his career as a Special Assistant to former President of the City Council Andrew J. Stein. He served as the office representative for the Borough of Staten Island and worked on issues regarding incineration and waste management alternatives.

Prior to his 2002 election, Cusick served as the Chief of Staff to former Staten Island Assemblyman Eric N. Vitaliano, managing staff and overseeing the assemblyman’s Albany and Staten Island offices. He was instrumental in researching and developing statewide legislation, including the law to close the Fresh Kills Landfill. Cusick was also Vitaliano’s representative to local and statewide civic, professional, and union organizations on legislative and community issues.

Cusick then served as Director of Constituent Services for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. His duties included serving as Senator Schumer’s liaison to New York State elected officials, as well as various federal agencies. In addition, he managed the day-to-day operation of the senator’s New York City office.

Well, based on his background, I don’t think raising money would be a problem for him. What does everyone think?

The Washington Post blog is running with a report that Vito Fossella will not seek re-election.

GOP aides speaking on the condition of anonymity said they expected Fossella would announce imminently that he won’t seek reelection. But Fossella spokesman Craig Donner tells the Sleuth that no announcement or press conference is planned.

It looks to me like national Republicans are doing what they can to push him out sooner rather than later. In any case, he is damaged goods and they are looking to make a fresh start. We are going to have an open seat on our hands and we better recruit vert quickly.