Jonathan Hicks

Writing in today's Times, Jonathan Hicks hit on the curious indifference some Democrats have exhibited towards their party's razor-thin loss to Republican state Senator Serph Maltese in Queens.

The theory behind the lack of interest is that Maltese enjoys good relations with his Democratic counterparts that has somehow tempered their enthusiasm for ending his legislative career. And as a member of the majority, he's been a reliable source of state aid for the city and Queens in particular.

But a Democratic insider told me there's been a slight change of attitude.

Senate Democrats will be sending lawyer Henry Burger - who is in charge of the Andrea Stewart-Cousins recount in Westchester - to oversee the recount in Queens, where less than 800 votes separates Maltese from his opponent, Albert Baldeo.

-- Azi Paybarah

Jonathan Hicks introduces readers to the battle for the 57th assembly district in Brooklyn.

Joe Lieberman calls for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld on Face the Nation, saying: "With all respect to Don Rumsfeld, who has done a grueling job for six years, we would benefit from new leadership to work with our military in Iraq." John Faso tells the New York Sun the state Republican Party is "suffering from a leadership void."

A Sun editorial says Hillary Clinton has "has the luxury of being against 'luxury housing'" when it comes to her opposition to a plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park.

George Pataki goes on the attack telling New Hampshire's Concord Monitor Hillary Clinton is a polarizing personality, and "I fear that Sen. Clinton has focused more on the negative and on attacking, as opposed to coming up with any positive solutions."

Anthony Weiner attacks insurance companies holding back payments related to 9/11, which are "between $188 million and $390 million, should be seized by the state and turned over to the World Trade Center Memorial Fund."

—Nicole Brydson

Jonathan Hicks leads his debate story with Mark Green's "withering attacks" on Andrew Cuomo , and Maggie writes that Green lobbed "shot after shot" at Cuomo's record while the frontrunner mostly stayed above it all.

Did it work? In our comments section, "Reality Check" says, "This one goes to Cuomo who appeared the most mature and statesman like of the four candidates," while "Vanessa" counters that Cuomo "can't just pretend he's above everyone else and not respond, he has an obligation to the people to respond if he's asking for our votes."

The Times gives Tony Avella the Public Lives treatment under less-than-ideal circumstances as he struggles to contain fallout from a racially motivated attack on four Asian constituents.

Tom Suozzi got some coverage for his specifically laid-out $2.5 billion plan to improve public schools, but gets the dreaded "vows to remain in race" headline.

Mike Bloomberg made his pitch in Chicago for the 2008 Democratic convention with lines like this: "I haven't been in the company of such a large group of passionate, dedicated Democrats since I was one."

The Sun has an interview with KT McFarland in which she calls for alternative fuel production in New York and other states as part of a strategy to deal with Iran.

More good news for Spitzer: a federal appeals court has sided with the attorneys general of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in their quest to require Midwestern power plants to cut emissions.

In what's being called a "final slap at the legislature," George Pataki vetoed 70 bills that include pension sweeteners for public employees and a plan to collect cigarette taxes from Indian tribes.

And the governor also vetoed a bill that would have given city police commissioner Ray Kelly a seat at the board of the Port Authority, a move that drew the public ire of the mayor.

-- Josh Benson

The Post reports that former deputy mayor under Giuliani Rudy Washington may have a respiratory illness related to pollution at the World Trade Center; and John Faso voted against equal pay.

The Times reports Faso's growing support is beginning to make Republicans nervous; and Jonathan Hicks profiles Denise O'Donnell.

And the Sun's editorial board wonders if Mike Bloomberg might really have national ambitions.

—Nicole Brydson