The Siena poll released today shows Republican Jim Tedisco with a 12-point lead over Democrat Scott Murphy in the 20th Congressional District race. That might be a narrow enough margin to encourage the Democrats to pour in money and campaign workers in a serious effort to hold on to Kirsten Gillibrand's seat, even though the Republicans have a 70,000 registration advantage. If the Tedisco campaign was overconfident, this ought to be enough to get them going. One potential opportunity is at the northern end of the district, where Murphy is based, a Republican area that has the Democrat with a slight lead. Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, is very popular up there, and it was reported somewhere that she has a distant connection to Murphy through his wife's large family, and has met him at those famous (from his TV ad) family get-togethers in Washington County. Little also was a rival of Tedisco's in seeking the Republican nomination in this race. But her spokesman, Dan Mac Entee, tells me today she is supporting Tedisco, and will appear at a fund-raiser for him tonight at Lake George. She hasn't been ask to cut an ad yet, but Tedisco probably should have her do that.
The Siena did not inlcude Eric Sundwall, whose campaign is collecting signatures to put him on the Libertarian line. Sundwall could draw votes from both camps, with a platform that includes withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and other countries, opposing spending measures including the stimulus bill, supporting civil liberties and opposing various Bush administration measures, and a call for an investigation of the Federal Reserve.
Mr. Murphy's best connections are in another state and Mr. Tedisco's best connections are in another congressional district.
Eric Sundwall lives in the district and connects with all of us.
Morris Guller
Lexington, New York
Posted by: Morris N. Guller | February 26, 2009 at 11:02 PM
betty little cutting an ad for a specific town? thats the dumbest idea i've ever heard...do you have any idea how much ads cost?
Posted by: fan | February 27, 2009 at 10:43 AM
TypePad
Not as dumb as thinking Betty Little only represents one town in the 20th Congressional District.
Posted by: Bob Conner | February 27, 2009 at 11:54 AM