Craig R. Johnson

Here's a map showing where Democrat Craig Johnson got his votes from in his election to the state Senate from Nassau County, courtesy of number-crunchers at the Working Families Party. The darker the area on the map, the more heavily it went for Johnson.

Port Washington, apparently, is Johnson Country.

-- Azi Paybarah

Martha Stark got the vote of at least one senate Republican.

Global Strategy Group just hired one of Eliot Spitzer's top campaign aides, Ryan Toohey.

Is there some flexibility in Rudy Giuliani's position on partial birth abortion?

Rick Carlin has notes on Albany's idea of ethnic diversity.

Harry Siegel, who is obsessed with the NYPD's stop-and-frisk numbers, thinks the huge increase in that statistic comes down to a change in paperwork, not policy.

Get ready for the Conservative Party's state convention, taking place in Albany starting on the 11th.

Bill Murphy wonders how Craig Johnson's new colleagues will react to Johnson calling the legislature "dysfunctional" during his campaign.

Tim Russert took the stand in the Scooter Libby trial today.

The political blog for the Staten Island Advance has moved to a new site over here.

ReformNY compares electronic voting machines to ATMs and has some words from the head of the NYU Brennan Center on the issue.

Aaron Naparstek has more info about city employees driving the wife of the city's police commissioner.

And pictured above is Joe Bruno and Tom DiNapoli engaged in a handshakey kind of hug.

-- Azi Paybarah

I just caught up with Republican state Senator Serph Maltese to talk to him about yesterday's victory by Craig Johnson.

On one subject of immediate speculation -- the possibility of partisan defections -- Maltese said he spoke with John Bonacic and Joe Robach, two GOP state senators who, like him, are rumored to be considering a party switch that would hand control of the Senate to the Democrats.

"I spoke with both of them last night," Maltese said, "and both of them told me it's total baloney and they're not interested in switching parties."

He explained yesterday's loss in Nassau County, at least in part, by pointing to Iraq.

"There was still enough spillover from the war in Iraq and resentment from the president," Maltese said. "Hopefully in November of next year, the war will be resolved and our troops will be home and it won't be an issue."

About the anti-gay marriage flier from the Nassau County Conservative Campaign Committee, Maltese, a former Conservative Party chairman in Queens, said, "Anybody asks me anything about that, I say don't do it. They usually come back and hit you in the face."

And as for the impact of yesterday's loss on GOP state chairman Joe Mondello?

None, said Maltese.

"I don't know if that's a referendum on Joe and his leadership. I have full confidence in him," he said.

"They say the race was run in a textbook fashion," he continued, but there were "circumstances beyond his control."

-- Azi Paybarah

A Democratic source called with some early numbers in the Nassau race: 52 percent for Democrat Craig Johnson and 48 percent for Republican Maureen O'Connell, with about 30 percent of the precincts reporting in [numbers updated].

This source also said that the districts which were expected to go heavily for the Republicans haven't reported in yet, meaning this lead will tighten, and possibly vanish.

If you've got more numbers, let me know.

Update: O'Connell is down by 2,000 votes with 13 election districts to go, according to a Republican source. My Democratic souce emailed me to say, "We won by 3." No concession speeches have been made.

-- Azi Paybarah

New York Blade Reporter Kerry Eleveld just got a hold of this flier, which includes the following line:

"The only way to stop gay marriage is to stop Craig Johnson on election day. Staying home on election day is a vote for gay marriage."

UPDATE: The flier says it was paid for by the Nassau County Conservative Campaign Committee. Messages left at the office of the county Conservative Party, and at the home of the county chairman, were not returned. Neither was a message left with the Maureen O'Connell campaign.

-- Azi Paybarah

Craig Johnson's campaign just released the numbers of Democrats and Republicans who have returned absentee ballots to the Nasau County Board of Elections.

So far, 860 registered Democrats have turned in ballots, as opposed to 799 registered Republicans.

For whatever that's worth.

Also, who's that Republican mayor on Maureen O'Connell's flier?

-- Azi Paybarah

Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton are campaigning into Nassau's 7th Senate district today, highlighting the importance of the race.

There's been talk that if Republicans lose this seat, other GOP state Senators may abandon ship, putting every statewide elected office and both houses of the state legislature into Democratic hands. (Can anyone say redistricting?)

Giuliani is coming into the race as Republican Maureen O'Connell touts her record of fighting terrorism with campaign literature that uses a doctored NYS Department of Homeland Security logo and the image of Osama Bin Laden.

Later today,the US Department of Justice will determine whether to send election monitors into the 7th District at the request of the Democrat Craig Johnson's campaign.

UPDATE: Democrat Craig Johnson's campaign requested that the DOJ monitor the race. Republican Chairman Joseph Mondello raised concerns of voter integrity.

-- Azi Paybarah

Republican Maureen O'Connell's people say it wasn't them who were calling Republicans. Craig Johnson's people are saying the same thing.

Don't worry folks. All this ends tomorrow.

-- Azi Paybarah

Saturday

11 a.m. The city Office of New Schools holds new high school information fair at Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus (122 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan). 12:30 p.m. Starrett City residents and advocates call on officials to block housing units from going to market rate apartments (City Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Ave.)

1 p.m. Advocates ask Eliot Spitzer to change policy on access to driver license policy (101 Sixth Ave, 22nd Flr.).

2 p.m. Long Island state Senators discuss the impact of Spitzer's proposed budget on Long Island property taxpayers (62 Fairfield Ave., Mineola).

Volunteers for Democrat Craig Johnson are car-pooling from Astoria and Bayside

And Christine Quinn is joined by 11 other council members on a trip to Israel.

Sunday

11 a.m. The city's Office of New Schools holds new high school information fair at Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus (122 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan).

11 a.m. NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson will appear on "Eyewitness News Up Close" with host Diana Williams [added].

Nassau Young Republicans campaign for Maureen O'Connell

Monday 7:15 a.m Spitzer campaigns with Craig Johnson at the LIRR station in Great Neck

1:00 p.m. Spitzer and education advocates make an announcement in the Blue Room at the state Capitol

7 p.m. Schools Chancellor Joel Klein attends meeting at PS 268 (133 East 53rd Street, BK)

-- Azi Paybarah

Two media outlets trying to book the two candidates running in a Feb. 7 special election for state Senate in Nassau are going to have to make due with just one.

Brian Lehrer's show this morning will only feature Democrat Craig Johnson because Maureen O'Connell is too busy to participate, her campaign spokesman Mike Arens told me yesterday. That's the same reason she's also declined to participate in a joint televised appearance with Johnson at ABC this Friday. (A person working at ABC said they only reached out to both campaigns about that event yesterday.)

When I asked Arens whether there was any duck-y aspect to what O'Connell was doing, he denied it strongly.

"She and her opponent have been on two televised new debates and three different newspaper editorial boards," he said.

He said that it was simply a matter of the campaign choosing to focus on getting O'Connell to meet or make personal contact with as many voters as possible in the district. So instead of doing debates, he said, O'Connell will be meeting with "senior citizens groups, walking door to door, [and joining] volunteers doing a train station in the morning."

-- Azi Paybarah

I missed this, but the Jewish Press endorsed Republican Maureen O'Connell in the state Senate race over her Democratic opponent, Craig Johnson, who is Jewish.

The editorial said O'Connell "has always been sensitive to the community's needs and who speak enthusiastically of her commitment to address such issues as tuition relief for parochial school parents, security funding for shuls, yeshivas and community institutions and the promotion of traditional family values."

-- Azi Paybarah

Here's the new Craig Johnson ad, which moves away from the slick, soft-music pieces we got used to seeing from adman Jimmy Siegel during the governor's race.  read more »

The script is after the jump.

-- Azi Paybarah

Here's one of two recent mailings 1199 SEIU and CSEA is sending out for Republican Maureen O'Connell.

Similar to the robo calls they're making, they're tying O'Connell to a very specific set of health care issues: breast cancer and health care services. Democrat Craig Johnson, a lawyer, is raising health issues of her own: namely, O'Connell's flip flop on abortion.

Which prevails as the dominant health care issue?

-- Azi Paybarah

So here, in photographic form, is the answer to the question of whether Republican Maureen O'Connell planned to show up for the League of Women Voters forum last night in Manhasset. The guy sitting by himself is Democrat Craig Johnson.

-- Azi Paybarah

State Senator Jeff Klein and senate candidate Craig Johnson release statistics for sex offenders living in the 7th Senate District at the Nassau County Court House in Mineola.

The Long Island Index 2007 and a study entitled "In a Tough Spot: Jobs, Taxes and Affordability on Long Island," done by the Rauch Foundation and conducted by Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research will be released tomorrow. According to the latter, "Long Island residents are discontent and have indicated that changes must be made if they are to be able to continue living and working here." The studies will be released at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

A coalition of federal, state, and local agencies will provide booths and expert panels at the Small Business Fair & Summit at Madison Square Garden.

The National Review Institute kicks off its conservative summit in Washington, DC.

The Fighting 69th Republican Club hosts their monthly meeting with Greg Morris of the New York State Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection.

And on C-Span, a discussion of the State of the Union.

—Nicole Brydson

Having control of the state Senate flip from Republicans to Democrat would "absolutely" help get a same-sex marriage law passed this year, said Matthew Carlin, the newly elected president of Stonewall Democrats.

Carlin, an attorney in Manhattan, was elected last night.

Carlin told me last night that one of the club's first priorities under his leadership would be to help put Democrats in control of the state Senate by electing Craig Johnson on Long Island. The club is planning a fund-raiser and volunteer drive in the coming days.

-- Azi Paybarah

It's still unclear whether Republican Maureen O'Connell will participate in scheduled candidate forum tonight along with Democrat Craig Johnson.

The event is supposed to start at 7 p.m. in Manhasset, hosted by the League of Women Voters. The organization's Nassau office of said that both candidates were invited and as of this morning, only Johnson has confirmed. I called O'Connell's campaign and asked if they'll be there. I'm still waiting for the answer.

On Monday, O'Connell and Johnson participated in a debate with News12 that will air on February 1st and again on the 3rd and 4th.

Yesterday, both candidates met jointly with Newsday's editorial board, according to Johnson's campaign. And on February 2nd, Channel 55 will air a joint interview with both candidates.

-- Azi Paybarah

Craig Johnson is to Eliot Spitzer what Robin is to Batman.

Newsday has 123 pages of people chatting about "the gap between the train and the platform" at LIRR stations.

Already, there's some fluctuation in the list of comptroller candidates.

Notes on the infighting at some Brooklyn political clubs are here.

At a real estate dinner last night, Joe Bruno shared a crowded stage with Bill Thompson, Melinda Katz, Leroy Comrie, James Oddo and others.

SurveyUSA has head-to-head numbers on Barack Obama against Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

Former Congressman Bob Ney is going to jail.

Hotline has highlights from Terry McAuliffe's new book.

Andrew Sullivan and Charles Krauthammer have the same strategy for Iraq.

How much is ImpeachBush.com worth to you?

And pictured above is Eliot Spitzer, who was clearly relishing his photo exhibit at Grand Central Terminal. -- Azi Paybarah

Maureen O'Connell isn't the only state Senate candidate in Nassau County with typos.

A sharp-eyed reader noticed that on his state Senate campaign website, Craig Johnson seems to be re-running his last campaign for Nassau County legislator.

-- Azi Paybarah

Jeanine Pirro may be the subject of an FBI probe. Again.

Pat Healy reports on the effects of Barack Obama on Hillary Clinton's scheduling.

Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders announce budget reforms, but don't go as far as to create an Independent Budget Office or abolish the three-person Public Authorities Control Board.

Roberto Ramirez hired "one of the Legislature's most knowledgeable experts on thoroughbred horse racing."

Blair Horner discusses the race for comptroller.

The mayor's Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability has a bunch of public meetings coming up.

Metro-North is on time about 97 percent of the time.

While campaigning for Craig Johnson, a canvasser bumped into Johnson's opponent, who appeared to be calling it an early night.

Barack Obama may be in the exploratory stage of his presidential run, but he's already getting endorsed by one congressman.

Republicans say they'll retain the senate seat being vacated by Wayne Allard.

Mystery Pollster and Doug Shoen continue arguing about a poll that says Americans are skeptical about the federal government negotiating with drug companies for lower-cost prescription drugs.

The New York Sun appears to be test-driving 51st State.

Colorful City Hall reporter Rafael Martinez is online with his own blog.

And pictured above is Rafael conducting an exclusive interview with a City Hall insider.

-- Azi Paybarah

Maureen O'Connell's first financial statement is up on line.

It shows that of the $347,060 the campaign raised, $330,000 came from the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

Interestingly, that's the exact amount O'Connell is paying her consultants, Whelan Media Strategies, according to the campaign's expense account.

The financial statement of her opponent, Craig Johnson, isn't up yet.

-- Azi Paybarah

Here's Eliot Spitzer in his first political ad since becoming governor, asking voters to help him enact his reform agenda by electing Craig Johnson to the state senate.

"It's called a special election, and this one is. Because those of you who helped bring about about a new day in Albany have one more job to do," Spitzer says.

Somewhere, Joe Bruno is grimacing.

-- Azi Paybarah

Eliot Spitzer will be appearing in the television ads for state Senate candidate Craig Johnson, Spitzer's spokeswoman Christine Anderson confirmed.

The ad was shot yesterday by ubiquitous adman Jimmy Siegel and could air as soon as tonight, according to one person on Johnson's campaign.

A campaign spokesman had no additional information and a call to Siegel's office was not immediately returned.

-- Azi Paybarah

I just got off the phone with Steven Schlesinger, managing partner at the law firm where Democratic state Senate candidate Craig Johnson is of counsel.

Schlesinger, who said he's been an election lawyer since around the time Johnson (and I) were born, said he has spoken out about (but not litigated on) the Help American Vote Act, which is having trouble getting through Albany.

The a bill is supposed to upgrade mechanical voting machines around the state with electronic voting machines and avoid the kind of mayhem that existed with those hanging chad things in Florida.

Schlesinger says that HAVA is not the solution.

"I think there is need for election law reform but I'm not sure HAVA is a perfect bill," he said.

"In my mind it was a rushed bill to address a problem but I don't think it was completely thought through. It's well intended but needs fixing."

What specifically?

"From what I've seen empirically, the places that rushed and bought machines for the last election had serious problems," he said. "So I think passing a statute saying you have to do it real quick, until these machines are tested and proven, is pretty stupid."

-- Azi Paybarah

A Nassau Democrat tells The Politicker that the Suozzi camp is readying a petitioning operation that will rely, in part, on county workers -- particularly Board of Elections patronage employees and Democratic staff of the County legislature -- "volunteering" their vacation time in June and July to gather nominating petition signatures in upstate New York.

And if that doesn’t have you feeling the winds of reform on your back, hard to see what will.

Suozzi aide Kim Devlin responds that Suozzi supporters on the County payroll, along with others, have helped with petitioning before, and probably will again.

"We never tell anybody -- especially a county employee -- that they have to petition," she said.

Meanwhile in Nassau, County Legislator Craig Johnson endorsed Eliot today, citing "a diversity of opinion in Nassau County as to the appropriateness of County Executive Suozzi’s political activities."