Buying Ballots
A small vault's worth of deep-pocketed donors will gather at the Manhattan home of George Soros this Wednesday to throw some serious cash towards the campaign of attorney Judy Aydelott. Aydelott is running for congress in the 19th District (i.e, the Hudson Valley 's "country house" region) against six-term incumbent Sue Kelly. Among the hosts of the $1000-$2100 event? Jayni and Chevy Chase, Stanley Tucci, Gloria Steinem, Ambassador Robin Duke, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Greg Sargent reports that in 2005 the Democrats outraised Republicans on Wall Street for the first time since 1994, thanks in part to the combined, one-two Hillary-Schumer fund-raising punch.
In other Hillary news, the Daily News reported this weekend that the senator has been renting out her donor list as a way to squeeze every last penny from her fund-raising base. While this strikes us as a little bit money-grubbing, to be sure, did any donors really think these people dind't sell their names?
And John Kerry continues to pursue the impossible, or at least the improbable: in the hopes of currying favor with Democratic candidates, party committees, and other groups that might be helpful to a presidential bid, he has doled out more dollars to these groups than any other 2008 hopeful, according to Roll Call (subscription only) and Political Wire.
-- Lizzy Ratner
Great, another Sue Kelly clone using her deep pockets to buy a seat in Congress she's not qualified for. It would be a sad day for the NY-19 Democrats if Aydelott wins the primary - she's a Republican in a donkey suit and is a rich, old, out of touch woman, which leaves nothing to distinguish her from Sue Kelly other than Sue Kelly's greater level of experience. If Aydelott wins the Democratic primary, she will lose the general election. She should not be our choice.
At the candidates dinner Aydelott brought up the rear with Ben Shuldiner. Aydelott was hapless and embarrassing. Out of the group, John Hall was most promising.
Aydelott is the wrong choice for the 19th Congressional. Mr. Marcopoulos couldn't have said it better. If she is elected, we will be dommed with yet another Republican in the seat. Darren Rigger is the most promising and electable conadidate. He will work for this district and advance all our goals.
Aydelott is the wrong choice for the 19th Congressional. Mr. Marcopoulos couldn't have said it better. If she is elected, we will be doomed with yet another Republican in the seat. Darren Rigger is the most promising and electable conadidate. He will work for this district and advance all our goals.
Get over it folks. Your candidates can't raise a dime and all they do is whine and complain abot Aydelott. Bottom line is Aydelott has outraised everyone of them, she has done what no one else in the district has ever done - raise oodles of money, and she fits the profile of the district. Shoot yourselves in the foot then you clowns. w're talking about a Dem pick-up. get over your tiny little egos. There is no one in this race that comes with "qualifications." You have a hippy lefty singer, a boy principal who thinks he's "the best in New York," a nobody from way upstate, a small town councilman, and maybe Darin Rigger is a competitor with his background. Sounds like sour grapes. Aydelott has the big guns backing her, it's time for the other to accept it and move on.
I agree with the statement above. I cannot even beleive that "qualifications" was brought up in these comments. Hall has been a lifelong musician, and although his motivation might be great for the Democrats, this does not make him qualified by any means. Rigger was a fund raiser and cannot even raise a lot of funds for himself in this race. Shuldiner is just too young and too underfunded as well. And oh, Sue Kelly has only spoken on the House floor twice in 10 years. Qualified? She's in the house by name only.
Aydelott does have the big guns behind her and she is the most moderate out of the bunch running in the Democratic primary, which will make her more viable in the general election. I, for one, am definitely on board.