Gun Politics New York

Mayor Bloomberg won re-election.  Gee, what a surprise.  And he only had to spend $100,000,000 plus of his own money to do it too.  In spite of this, all he was able to get was 50.61% of the vote.  Still, a win is a win and we’re going to have to put up with him for 4 more years.  The Times thinks this slim victory will diminish his political clout.  I like this quote:

… “I campaigned for Bloomberg eight years ago,” said David Gibson, 60, a computer worker. “But he changed because of a strange personality shift that took place. He went from being loveable, likeable and amiable to a guy who comes out very defensive and intolerant.” …

I think he’s always been that way.  It’s just become that much more apparent to people who don’t usually pay that close attention to politics.  As to his antigun agenda, I don’t see how he comes out in a stronger political position because of this.  I also don’t see him stopping one bit either.

Elseware, the only MAIG member we specifically targeted was Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan as being the most vulnerable.  He is barely leading his two opponents by 61 votes with 39.86% of the vote to GOP challenger Rich David’s 39.25% and independent candidate Doug Drazen’s 20.88%.  The absentee ballots will be looked at and a final vote count will be available on the 12th.  Even if he does end up winning, he had to spend tens of thousands of his own money to do it.

Mayor Bloomberg is spending $35,000 per hour of his own money on his re-election campaign.

The latest polling shows Doug Hoffman leading Bill Owens 41-36%.  Fred Dicker thinks Hoffman is going to win and I’m inclined to agree with him.  Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens basically validated all of her critics complaints about her.  According to Dicker:

“… A Hoffman win will send shock waves throughout Democratic ranks nationally and in New York, especially among the centrist Blue Dogs, whose moderation usually reflects the presence of a sizeable Republican voting bloc in their districts. “Upstate Democrats are going to be shaking in their boots” if Hoffman wins, one of New York’s best-known Democrats said yesterday …”

That would be good news for gun rights here and nationally.

The Brady’s are claiming that Dede Scozzafava’s dropping out of the CD-23 race reflects badly upon the NRA:

“… without a vote being cast, the “powerful” National Rifle Association has already failed to elect an endorsed candidate for office in this election cycle …”

That doesn’t mean much.  Doug Hoffman has been loudly proclaiming he is a NRA member so it’s not as if the gun issue has taken a hit.  As far as I know the Owens’ campaign didn’t try attacking either campaign on gun issues and he’s sure not running to the Brady Bunch looking for an endorsement from them.

The Scozzafava campaign has imploded.  Politico has the story, “Scozzafava bows out of NY-23 race.“

Doug Hoffman and Bill Owens are tied in the latest poll:

“… The Siena College survey has Democrat Bill Owens with 36 percent of likely voters in New York’s 23rd Congressional District and Conservative Party upstart Doug Hoffman with 35 percent. Republican Dede Scozzafava had 20 percent … The percentage of voters with an unfavorable impression of Scozzafava, a member of the state assembly, spiked from 29 percent two weeks ago to 51 percent this week … “Hoffman is now winning among Republican voters,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg, who added that the Conservative nominee also maintained his slight lead among independents. “He is getting the support of 50 percent of Republicans. Scozzafava is down to 25 percent.” …”

Scozzafava is toast.  Fortunately, guns aren’t an issue in this race and Hoffman does claim he is a member of NRA.

GOA is supporting Doug Hoffman.  Their e-mail announcement looks like it originated from a memo the CP sent around trying to drum up support for Hoffman.

Endorsements and recommendations for select local races are now online and postcards have begun arriving in the districts.