• Barack Obama,  David Paterson,  Day By Day

    Day By Day August 17, 2010 – Two Outta Three

    August 17, 2010 /

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Gee, Chris, Zed has two more than the President.

    I mean, even Nevada Senator and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is walking back from the New York City Ground Zero Mosque FLAP.

    Now, Democrat New York Governor David Paterson is finally coming to the rescue?

    New York Gov. David Paterson (D) will meet with the imam and developer of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero “later this week” to discuss the possibility of removing the mosque to an “alternate location”, according to Rep. Peter King (R).

    King, an outspoken opponent of placing the mosque and Islamic cultural center so close to where terrorists attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, learned about the meeting during a phone call with Paterson Tuesday morning.

    A spokesman for Paterson confirmed that efforts to broker a solution are underway. “We are working with the developers on a staff level but there have not been any formal discussions between the governor and Imam or developer,” said spokesman Morgan Hook. “However, we expect to have a meeting scheduled in the near future.”

    Kind of ironic that David Paterson may be bailing out the President when Obama originally tried to force him out of a re-election race. But, Paterson is now out and Obama has some appointments at his disposal.

    Pretty standard but you would never see Rudy Giuliani involved in such machinations, now would you?

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  • Barbara Boxer,  Carly Fiorina,  Chuck DeVore,  David Paterson,  Democrats,  George Pataki,  GOP,  Kirsten Gillibrand,  Rudy Giuliani

    Are the United States Senate Democrats With 60 Members At Their High-Water Mark?

    September 29, 2009 /

    The composition of the United States Senate, September 2009

    Apparently so, according to Charlie Cook.

    One of Vice President Joe Biden‘s long-standing and endearing qualities is his gift of hyperbole. The Washington Post recently quoted Biden as saying at a Democratic fundraiser that, of the 54 House seats Democrats have flipped in the last two elections cycles, “If [Republicans] take them back, this is the end of the road for what [President Obama] and I are trying to do.”

    While he overstates the case, Biden’s worry applies at least as much in the Senate. The Democrats’ majority status next year is not in doubt, but their 60-seat majority is in grave danger and the odds of their maintaining control after 2012 and 2014 are increasingly remote.

    The Senate seats up in next year’s midterm elections are evenly split, with 19 on each side. But in 2012, Democrats have 23 seats at risk (counting Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.) compared to only nine for the GOP. In 2014, it’s 20 Democrats up, to only 13 for Republicans.

    Good news for the GOP.

    California:

    In California, it’s unclear how tough the re-election challenge will be for Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. The biggest question there is whether Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is ready for prime time politics.

    Note: there is NO mention of Carly Fiorina’s GOP challenger Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

    New York:

    New York is also very murky. Former Republican Gov. George Pataki might run. Remember that he knocked off Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994, the last really bad year for Democrats. There are other first-tier Republicans — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Rep. Rick Lazio — who are looking at the gubernatorial race but might be enticed to take on Gillibrand.

    Probably Rudy for Governor against Paterson and Pataki against Gillibrand. Then, a likely dual pick-up for the GOP.

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  • David Paterson,  George Pataki,  Kirsten Gillibrand,  Polling,  Rudy Giuliani

    Poll Watch: Rudy Giuliani for New York United States Senate?

    September 22, 2009 /

    Rudy Giuliani campaigning for President in Santa Barbara, California September 2007
    Photo By Flap

    Well, if New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the Democrat nominee for Governor, Rudy would have an easier time defeating appointed Democrat Senator Kristen Gillibrand.

    Let’s look at the poll numbers:

    If David Paterson runs for Governor in 2010, would you vote to elect him or would you prefer someone else?
    14% Elect, 71% Prefer someone else

    2010 Governor: Democratic Primary
    66% Cuomo, 20% Paterson (chart)

    2010 Governor: General Election
    Paterson 39%, Lazio 35% (chart)
    Giuliani 52%, Paterson 35% (chart)
    Cuomo 52%, Giuliani 39% (chart)
    Cuomo 64%, Lazio 18% (chart)

    And for the U.S. Senate:

    2010 Senate: General Election (trends)
    46% Giuliani, 38% Gillibrand

    I don’t know if Rudy would be interested in a non-executive position and it is rumored that former GOP New York Governor George Pataki is considering running for the Senate.

    If the Democrats continue to fade, the GOP could get a two’fer here. But, the stars must align perfectly.

    Stay tuned……

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  • Barack Obama,  David Paterson,  Rudy Giuliani

    Obama Fumbles: David Paterson Still Running for New York Governor

    September 20, 2009 /

    Makes one wonder if Obama’s political shop has collapsed.

    Gov. David A. Paterson defiantly vowed to run for election next year despite the White House‘s urging that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race.

    Appearing tired and agitated at a parade in Harlem on Sunday, the governor told a crowd of reporters that he would not abandon his campaign to seek a full term.

    “I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year,” he said at the 40th annual African-American Day Parade.

    Mr. Paterson would not characterize what he was told by the White House, saying that he would not “discuss confidential conversations.”

    “I’m not talking about any specific conversations,” he said. “As I said, I am running for office.”

    President Obama had sent a request to Mr. Paterson that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race, fearing that Mr. Paterson cannot recover from his dismal political standing, according to two senior administration officials and a New York Democratic operative with direct knowledge of the situation.

    The decision to ask Mr. Paterson to step aside was proposed by political advisers to Mr. Obama, but approved by the president himself, one of the administration officials said.

    “Is there concern about the situation in New York? Absolutely,” the second administration official said Saturday evening. “Has that concern been conveyed to the governor? Yes.”

    The administration officials and the Democratic operative spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions with the governor were intended to be confidential.

    The president’s request was conveyed to the Mr. Paterson by Representative Gregory W. Meeks, a Queens Democrat, who has developed a strong relationship with the Obama administration, they said.

    Obama, Rahm and Axelrod know that Paterson will not beat former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But, they have fumbled the delicate balance of forcing out Paterson and giving him a face saving prize to clear the field for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

    Maybe it was the resentment of the Caroline Kennedy – Hillary Clinton mess.

    Who knows?

    But, Paterson is so far down in the polls Rudy Giuliani will be an easy winner and the New York GOP WILL make a come back.

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  • Andrew Cuomo,  David Paterson,  Rudy Giuliani

    Poll Watch: Rudy Giuliani Gearing Up for New York Governor’s Race?

    August 25, 2009 /

    Maria Comella, Deputy Communications Director of Rudy Giuliani for President on the right and Rudy Giuliani in Santa Barbara, California September 27, 2007. Photo By Flap

    Indeed he is.

    Nineteen months after ending his disastrous run for the presidency, Rudolph W. Giuliani is clearing a path for a possible race for governor in 2010, believing public anger at an ineffectual Albany and unease over the economy could create ideal conditions for a Republican to reclaim the governor’s mansion.

    Mr. Giuliani has told associates that he will decide on a candidacy within 30 to 60 days, as he weighs whether he can be elected statewide and what impact another campaign would have on his business interests.

    He is already laying the groundwork. On Friday he traveled to Long Island to encourage the state Republican Party chairman, Joseph N. Mondello, to step aside, a maneuver that party insiders viewed as the former mayor’s most concrete step yet toward a run.

    On Monday, Mr. Mondello announced his resignation, and Mr. Giuliani’s lieutenants were working the phones to drum up support for the replacement they prefer, the Niagara County Republican chairman, Henry F. Wojtaszek, a longtime supporter of Mr. Giuliani’s.

    Mr. Giuliani’s efforts to sound out party leaders about a candidacy have also intensified. He has crisscrossed the state meeting with local officials; after a motivational speech to a paying audience in Buffalo last Tuesday, he met with local Republican leaders in a private meeting room to talk about the race. In recent weeks, he has also discussed his possible candidacy with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and met in Washington with Representative Peter T. King, a Republican who has considered running himself but said he would not if Mr. Giuliani became a candidate.

    I think Rudy is good to go weather incumbent New York Governor David Paterson runs or withdraws. Probably only Obama could persuade the poll challenged Paterson NOT to run.

    Rudy will win going away with the current economic condition in New York and will have to be considered again for a national ticket position either as President, Vice President or as Attorney General.

    What Flap wants to see is how quickly will GOP celebrities flock to do fundraising for the former New York City Mayor?

    Here are the polls:

    And, the one in a hypothetical Andrew Cuomo race:

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  • Andrew Cuomo,  David Paterson,  Polling,  Rudy Giuliani

    Poll Watch: 2010 New York Governor’s Race Has Rudy Giuliani Far Ahead of Governor David Paterson

    July 16, 2009 /
    New York Governor's Poll

    In the latest Rasmussen poll, Republican and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is far ahead of incumbent New York Governor David Paterson. Rudy is behind if he runs against Democrat Attorney General Andrew Cuomo but by only 7 points.

    It’s a knockout for Rudy Giuliani if he’s the Republican candidate for governor in New York next year running against incumbent Democrat David Paterson. But if Andrew Cuomo is Giuliani’s opponent, chalk up a win for the Democrat. At least that’s the way it looks in the summer of 2009.

    A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows Giuliani beating Paterson by 22 points, 55% to 33%. Eight percent (8%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent are undecided.

    However, Cuomo tops Giuliani by seven points – 48% to 41% – in a match-up between the two, with six percent (6%) favoring some other candidate and six percent (6%) not sure who they’ll vote for.

    At this point, it appears Giuliani is likely to face the tougher of the two Democrats since a survey of Democratic Primary voters shows Cuomo ahead of Paterson 61% to 27%.

    But, will Andrew Cuomo be able to push out David Paterson?

    And, with Obama’s and generic Democrat Party poll numbers in the tank, will Cuomo decide to run in a tough race against Republican Rudy?

    Stay tuned……

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  • Andrew Cuomo,  David Paterson,  George Pataki,  Rudy Giuliani

    Andrew Cuomo Leads Latest Poll for New York Governor 2010 Race

    May 18, 2009 /

    The latest Rasmussen poll does not look good for Republicans Rudy Giuliani or George Pataki if New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo runs from the Democrat side.

    But, if incumbent New York Governor David Paterson runs it is a diffferent story.

    ny-2010

    But, at this stage of the race who is to say who will run for what, especially with a United States Senate seat thrown into the mix.

    It is far from clear that either Giuliani or Pataki will seek the office. Sen. John Cornyn, head of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, reportedly approached Pataki about a possible run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand.

    Stay tuned…..

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  • Andrew Cuomo,  David Paterson,  Polling,  Rudy Giuliani

    Poll Watch: Rudy Giuliani Gains in New York Governor Race

    May 14, 2009 /
    New York Gov. Paterson Gets Low Scores From All Races, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Giuliani Narrows Gap With Cuomo In Governor’s Race

    With polling results from the latest Qunnipiac University New York Governor’s race is there ANY doubt that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will run next year?

    In an early look at the 2010 Governor’s race, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads Paterson 54 – 32 percent. Giuliani leads 86 – 6 percent among Republicans and 60 – 21 percent among independent voters, while Democrats back Paterson 56 – 30 percent. Giuliani leads 62 – 25 percent among white voters and 51 – 42 percent among Hispanics, while black voters back Paterson 64 – 18 percent.

    Cuomo leads Giuliani 47 – 41 percent in a head-to-head matchup, down from a 53 – 36 percent lead April 6. Independent voters have shifted from 49 – 38 percent for Cuomo April 8 to 44 – 40 percent for Giuliani today. In this latest survey, Giuliani leads 80 – 9 percent among Republicans while Democrats back Cuomo 78 – 16 percent. Cuomo leads 76 – 13 percent among black voters and 52 – 40 percent among Hispanics, as white voters go to Giuliani 47 – 42 percent.

    “If the Republicans nominate Mayor Giuliani, he beats Paterson by a lot. Cuomo beats Giuliani but that lead is shrinking as independent voters shift to the Republican. That’s a trend to watch,” Carroll said.

    There is already a Draft Rudy website, a Facebook group and a Twitter account set up for a Rudy run for Governor. With Flap’s experience in the Giuliani for President campaign this is not established with at least some input from the Rudy folks.

    The only question now is whether with deteriorating poll numbers will New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo take a chance running for Governor or let the New York Democrats twist in the wind with David Paterson?

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