Gillibrand keeps racking up the endorsements
Earlier today, former centrist New York City Mayor Ed Koch came out in support of Kirsten Gillibrand. This comes on the heals of reports that Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy from Manhattan will be running against her in the Democratic primary in 2010. Late last week, Gillibrand also got a boost in the African-American community in NYC from the endorsements of Reverend Al Sharpton and her former colleague in the House of Representatives, Greg Meeks.
Despite all this, Maloney released an internal poll the other day showing her beating Gillibrand in a hypothetical matchup by a margin of 34% to 32%. I have my doubts about this poll, if for no other reason than it is so early on in the campaign that many people do not have strong opinions in favor of any particular candidate — something that is born out in the poll by the fact that about a third of New York dems have no opinion one way or the other.
Whatever your views on Maloney or Gillibrand, my worst fear is that this will turn into a downstate vs. upstate battle. On the other hand, if the steady stream of big-name endorsements from downstate continues for Gillibrand, it could spell major problems for Maloney in the future.
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Senator Gillibrand is earning endorsements because she is a smart, compassionate woman who has worked hard to represent ALL New Yorkers since her appointment to the Senate in January. She’s pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, and has earned high praise from the Sierra Club: “The Sierra Club is thrilled that Congresswoman Gillibrand will bemoving to the Senate,” said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director.
“She has already proven to be an environmental champion in the House
and we are confident that she will continue to work hard for clean energy and safer, healthier communities in the Senate.” And there’s more: She’s for the Dream Act, gun control (and hunting) and for a public option in health care reform.
The poll Maloney commissioned was dishonest: the 34-32% “lead” is within the margin of error. She claims she gets to 49% but only after “push polling” questions that distort Gillibrands votes, words and record. It’s chilling; Malonry is using a self-serving poll to try to justify a divisive primary challenge. Where’s her integrity?
It’s unfortunate that Carolyn Maloney has chosen to launch her campaign with a harsh negative attack on Senator Gillibrand. In the meantime, the new senator is working very hard for the issues she cares about including job creation, especially for Upstate NY, a public “Medicare for All” option in the new health plan, and in securing billions of dollars for New York in the president’s national Recovery Program. It’s too bad some members of Congress have not given her a fair chance to prove herself because that’s what’s she’s doing with her constituents. She traveling the state, listening to NYers talk about what they are facing in these difficult times and trying hard to make things better. The only poll that counts will be on election day, and I predict Gillibrand will confound the predictions and win big, just as she did in her old Congressional District.
I’m just glad someone had the courage to stand up and say that New Yorkers need a choice in this election. Since when is it ok to just appoint a Senator and intimidate potential candidates out of taking part in the democratic process? Plus, Gillibrand’s progressive credentials are far from stellar. Just on guns and immigration alone, NY progressives should be thinking twice about whether she’s the person we want in this seat.