Democracy for New York City's Fourth Annual "Summer Cocktail Reception" was all about Barack Obama.

Held at the downtown bar M1-5, the event's theme was "Unity '08," a reference, apparently, to bringing Democrats together (and not to the group that wanted Michael Bloomberg to run for president).

As the guests trickled in, DFNYC finance director Lewis Cohen decorated the bar with "Obama '08" signs.

"I have no doubt we will endorse," he told me.

"I think people are looking at the total candidate," said City Councilman Tony Avella, also a long-shot mayoral candidate. "He [Obama] stands for change, and we need change in the city.  read more »

Lewis Cohen, DFNYC finance director, is striking back against critics who were baffled by the organization's decision not to endorse in the race between State Senator Marty Connor and his challenger, former Chuck Schumer aide Dan Squadron.

Cohen said both candidates posed problems for the group’s progressive membership.

Some members of DFNYC didn’t think Connor had been outspoken enough on congestion pricing, Cohen told me, nor did they think that his work as an election lawyer raised “progressive confidence within this community.” There was also lingering unhappiness with Connor’s campaign tactics against his 2006 challenger, Ken Diamondstone, who many progressives preferred over Connor, Cohen says.  read more »

Here’s the invitation for tonight’s fund-raiser at the Park Avenue home of major Democratic donor Morris Pearl. The money is going to the campaign of Anchorage mayor Mark Begich, who is running for Senate.

The event is organized by progressive activist and fund-raiser Lewis Cohen, and headlined by City Councilman John Liu.

Liu’s featured spot on the invitation is notable, since he’s term-limited in 2009 and eyeing an unspecified citywide race. Putting him inside the home of Pearl -- who has contributed a few times to mayoral and public advocate candidates -- can’t hurt Liu’s own fund-raising efforts.

Democracy for New York City's Lewis Cohen, a fund-raiser, is predictably unhappy that the Democratic establishment is again looking for a candidate to run against Republican State Senator Caesar Trunzo.  read more »