NY-26 race is over before it even began
Something unfortunate has happened: the two Democratic frontrunners to be the candidate for the 26th congressional district (Jon Powers and Jack Davis) have succeeded in beating up each other rather than beating up the Republican candidate, Chris Lee. I am afraid- and this is my own personal opinion, so take it for what it’s worth- that the primary campaign has gotten so negative, that neither of them will be able to win the district this November.
In particular, Jack Davis has not only smeared Jon Powers zealously and with passion. He has been able to smear himself beyond repair. He has single-handedly ruined any chance for the Democrats to retake this seat from the Republicans. It’s sad, but I feel that the only outcome now for either candidate is defeat as a result of the campaign that Davis has run. He has made a fool of himself many times over while completely alienating the people who were his strongest supporters in 2004 and 2006. The incessant negative campaign ads have seriously damaged Powers’ image as a fresh outsider similar to what Hillary Clinton did to Barack Obama. But in this case, we don’t have six months to unite the two campaigns and backtrack on all of the attacks so that we can create a united Democratic front for the fall campaign in the way that Hillary succeeded in convincing many of her strongest supporters to get behind Obama at the convention last week.
Most importantly, it appears likely that Davis will be running all the way even if he loses the Democratic primary. He bribed his way onto the Independence Party line and he created his very own “Save Jobs and Farms Party.” It is “Connecticut for Joe Lieberman” all over again, except this time, the possible loser of the Democratic primary can’t count on the support of a majority of Republicans simply because he is in favor of their foreign policies as Lieberman did in 2006.
I hope Jack Davis loses the primary next Tuesday and supports Jon Powers in the general election. I hope that with his support, residents of the 26th district send Jon Powers to Congress this November. But the actions of Jack Davis’s campaign these last few weeks have made that scenario very improbable, if not impossible. Thus, I personally have concluded that the campaign to replace Tom Reynolds in New York’s 26th district is over before it began.
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You may as well say that a black guy whose middle name is Hussein can never ever become President. 12 months ago, Obama’s story was more unlikely than Powers’ but his supporters never gave in to the “it’s over before it begins” defeatist mentality. And you are giving up far too easily here. Political fights are tough and there are always unbelievable obstacles, but to succeed, you need to persevere in the face of what feels like overwhelming odds. If you quit now, you deserve to lose. If you want to win, turn off your computer and go knock on doors every day from now until November 4.
Sorry Airbare - I’m not with you on this one. Sure a primary doesn’t help. Nor does a continuation of any of the Crazy Jack BS all are obstacles to be sure.
Powers folks are out and about - Primary’s draw the really actively engaged Dems and I’m thinking that actively engaged Dems are going to break Powers’ way.
Powers wins the Primary - the DCCC dumps in the remainig funding (WNY is getting 2.7 million dollars betwee three Congressional races). If Davis continues - he paints himself as a bitter old man.,
A little off topic, but does anyone know the order on the ballot for Tuesday?
In my county (Livingston), they are all on the top row (A), since they are all vying for the same party’s nomination. There, the order (from left to right) is Davis, Kryzan, Powers.
The Norquistism in Chris Lee’s ads is sickening
That’s a shame that Powers got the 3rd draw.
“…unite the two campaigns and backtrack on all of the attacks so that we can create a united Democratic front for the fall campaign.”
“I hope Jack Davis loses the primary next Tuesday and supports Jon Powers in the general election.”
I must be watching a different race.
[...] Matt at Sep 5th, 2008 …according to left-wing blog, Rochester Turning. Something unfortunate has happened: the two Democratic frontrunners to be the candidate for the [...]
If only his last name started with an “A”.
There is an assumption here that the ballot order was done alphabetically ‘dood - that may not be true.
Does anyone know if the ballot order was determined by alphabetical order or did they draw (like other races) for position.
I personally don’t know but believe there is a draw for position.
I guess I don’t know for sure, but they’ve drawn for every other primary that I know about on the local level.
The biggest problem for Powers isn’t even being discussed. If he gets through the primary, Jack’s just going to run on the “Save Jobs and Farms” (or whatever it’s called) party line. Jack is going to go down trying to burn all those around him and split the vote in November.
It is mentioned in the post albeit I believe Jack will try to as you say “burn all those around him”
How is this - Powers wins the Primary, Wins in November, Davis goes back to being a Republican because he (Davis) won’t be attending any more fundraisers for Cheney or Reynolds and runs again in 2010.
Here in Genesee county, I’ve had many, many of my Republican friends and acquaintances, upon seeing my bright red Powers campaign T-shirt, ask, “Who’s running for the Republicans?” “Chris Lee” Pause “Who’s he?” “A millionaire funding his own campaign” “Oh, christ, not another one” This race is far from over. Powers primary win will likely be a signal to Lee and the Republicans that the stuff Davis threw didn’t stick, and if people are already complaining that they’re tired of negative campaigns, Lee would be ill advised to take that tack. Davis will continue to run as “The Bats**t Crazy” candidate, but he’s likely to see Lee as a new target, go even more negative, and end up running a campaign only dogs can hear. With the number of new and re-registered voters we’ve seen in this very red county alone, there could be at least a closing of the gap between Dems and Repubs. I don’t have a feel for how its going to go, but I still feel optimistic for Powers.
The Powers campaign is running a very effective ground game, and he has personally reached far more rural voters than the other two. But it’s a numbers game, and we need to knock on Democratic doors and call Democratic voters to get them to the polls on Tuesday. Every vote will count. ANYONE who has an hour (or two, or twenty) in the next four days should contact the campaign, come to the Canvassing Rally (Saturday morning, Greece and/or Geneseo). Bring a cell phone. The hour you give could change the race.
Attention Massa Volunteers –we will be mobilizing for Jon Powers this weekend, doing all we can to put him on the ballot. If you would like to help please call the Massa campaign headquarters at 585-425-4013–Thanks
My biggest concern at this point is that Kryzan could split the anti-Davis vote. Davis has slung enough mud at Powers that some of it may stick, and if those voters see Alice’s “Cut it out, boys” ad and find her an acceptable alternative, well…
[...] Jack Davis’ party he created for himself? He bribed his way onto the Independence Party line and he created his very own “Save Jobs and [...]
[...] leave it to others to dissect however - Did airbare call a few days ago? In particular, Jack Davis has not only smeared Jon Powers zealously and with passion. He has been [...]