GOP Struggling To Find Candidate To Hold Key House Seat
In yet another sign of the disastrous recruiting difficulties that continue to plague the GOP, a top New York Republican has just acknowledged in an interview that most of the party's choices to replace scandal-plagued Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) have already opted out of the race, opening up this GOP-leaning district to a strong Democratic challenge.
It's hard to overstate how much this race tells us about the GOP's national troubles, and what tough sledding they're facing this Fall in the Congressional races -- after all, this is the party's local stronghold in New York City, but they haven't been able to find a candidate.
"Unfortunately, as you go down the list, most of them have taken themselves out," said former Rep. Guy Molinari, the unofficial leader of the Staten Island GOP, in a phone call with Election Central.
Potential candidates who have thus far declined include: District Attorney Dan Donovan, county clerk Stephen Fiala, New York City councilmen James Oddo and Vincent Ignizio, and Federal Transit Authority administrator James Simpson.
At the moment, Molinari is looking at businessman Paul Atanasio, community activist Dennis McKeon, and Judge James Maltese as potential recruits.
This is the only New York City district to have voted for President Bush in 2004, but the overall environment this year could changes things. "The Democrats have a good shot at this," Molinari said. "They've done well in the three specials that have been held so far."
Gotalife for Congress!
May 27, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cue violin!
May 27, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
ANd each open seat they have to defend, only spread their already depleted resources even further. Meanwhile Obama and the Democratic campaigns (sans Clinton) are the veritable rainmaker when it comes to resources this cycle.
May 27, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotalife, what do you say, we will set you up in a condo in Staten Island, and introduce you around to the big wigs you need to cultivate. Just mention your typical screed about Obamabots on Kool-Aid destroying America, and you will be the new GOP darling!
May 27, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
One reason I really really love these stories, beyond the obvious is that it makes it very much more difficult for the Repugs to steal another election. When the news is all about their trouble, this is a bulwark against another theft, IMO.
May 27, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a nice reminder of the predicament the Repubs are in this fall, and all of their own making, I might add. I cannot wait to move on with this general election. I am getting to the point where I am arguing with Obama supporters over whether TPM is Hillary-biased (my take: who cares, she's irrelevanrt in a week!). Once America gets a clear look at Obama vs. McCain (no more Hillary stink bombs being thrown around) the narrative changes instantly.
The Moveon ad is a start, but we need to see more substance linking Bush and McCain. As we all know, there's plenty to chew on.
May 27, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
O god - I can't wait to move on either - McLame is such a ripe target, just sitting there like an idiot - this could be so much fun if we could get past this acrimonious situation that the Clintons created - and I'm very hopeful that we will soon.
But man - I feel like a cat trapped behind window glass who is watching a particularly retarded squirrel just on the other side - please let me out!
May 27, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am getting to the point where I am arguing with Obama supporters over whether TPM is Hillary-biased
hah! Me too!
My take? No. We're in the last gasps of an historic campaign. 'Course they're going to cover it.
May 27, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's biased.
I sometimes, however, disagree with the balancing act attempts to be neutral when I think it doesn't get anywhere and I sometimes disagree about the importance of a post, and sometimes about sourcing, and sometimes just on philosophy.
But not bias. I do not believe there is any bias here.
May 27, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
it really is a complete and utter recruiting meltdown for the staten island GOP as well as the NRCC.
May 27, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Denny Crane for Congress!
May 27, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't the Republicans find a popular Democrat to run, buy them off with gifts, cash or other inducements, back him or her, and when the candidate gets elected, they can switch to the Republican party? Some say it would never work but look at me!
May 27, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheato Vito's shoes were probably dirty as a result of the black socks that remained on at all times...it's a bipartisan sine qua non, among unfaithful New York City politicos.
May 27, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop the speculation. Curtis Sliwa 2008:
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/radio_host_sliwa_says_hed_mull.html
May 27, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I can quibble with the headline, why is this race necessarily "key"? All seats have the same vote. Some might be key because they're held by a party leader, or the election for that seat is seen as a sign of something like special elections. Maybe a party is trying to measure some long term strategy. However, the only thing key about this seat is maybe it's the last big city seat Republicans hold (I'm not sure, so if someone knows, please chime in) and is a sign that the cities have been conceded to the Democrats, or maybe the significance is that Fossella is part of the GOP class of 1994, or perhaps it's sign the GOP is danger of becoming just a southern party. I don't know, but then again, I didn't call it "key".
Of course, the GOP could spin a loss as just the reaction to a scandal, or that being a big city seat, they were hardly likely to hold it anyway and they can feel proud it was competitive.
May 27, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's key because it was a fairly close race for Fossella two years ago so Dems have had their eye on this seat as a possible gain, but it's hard for a democrat to win in staten island. I'm actually in this district and it's pretty much a republican stronghold. It's one step closer towards a veto proof majority should we not have a democratic president.
May 27, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
well, maybe you ain't noticed, but the "East Coast Repuglitard" is nearly extinct
not many repuglitards left, north of Mason and Dixon's line.
so as anthropoligists, we're interested in studying how this dysfunctional species went extinct
plus, come on, the repuglitards are reduced to nominating "Navin Johnson" to fill the slot on the ballot
now THAT'S funny
we like funny
June 1, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thee FP Foto of him? Dunnit just sing "the Boss"? I betcha Fossella got more poontang than rick james...
May 27, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Par les vous ouch! The unsanctioned foreign object identified in this battle is... wait for it... an elephant in the room! Boo! What a bunch of saggy sad sacks. I will say I have very little confidence in the Democrats in general to play this potential pivot year correctly, but I'm more concerned about that little machine that will be at almost every voting site. A little black box made by a nice ol' elevator maker. They also make those nice "suck-tubes" at your local bank drive-through. Yes, the good folks at Diebold give me pause... the elephant in the room no one really ever talks about. Why not? GOBAMA!
May 27, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
dude, tin foil is on sale
get some
June 1, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of suck-tubes, seems like close contest states, purps, whatever you wanna call 'em, play right into those weird rules set by the playahs. That's a scary proposition in a presidential election year. Close states=stolen states? Whither the interest in those paperless black boxes? Peace
May 27, 2008 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Screw gotNolife . . . I'm move to New York and changing my Party affiliation . . . Oooo I feel like Pope Gregory already!
May 27, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink