The New York Observer » Jim Ellis http://www.observer.com Just another WordPress site Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:45:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Fifteen Chairs Ask Collins to Get In the Game, Collins Camp Says ALBANY—After a good week for Rick Lazio before Christmas--when he mopped up the endorsements of several county chairs as well as Rudy Giuliani--fifteen Republican county chairmen have signed a letter asking Erie County Executive Chris Collins to run for governor.

"We recognize that the time for bold and committed leadership is now. That is Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/fifteen-chairs-ask-collins-get-game-collins-camp-says Scozzafava’s Labor Support, Like Scozzafava, Breaks for the Democrat ALBANY—In August, Larry Bulman wasn't convinced Bill Owens would win his race to replace John McHugh in Congress.

"It's simple: boots on the ground," Bulman, the Saratoga County Democratic chairman and the political director for the plumbers and steamfitters union, told me over lunch. "Which means union support. That's how we won Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/scozzafavas-labor-support-breaks-democrat The Collapse of Dede Scozzafava, Moderate Republican ALBANY—"I liken it to Nancy Pelosi," Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, the last Republican to lose a Congressional election in New York, told me Oct. 22 when I asked if there was any chance his party would abandon his colleague Dede Scozzafava's sputtering--and now defunct--Congressional bid. "She's got 25 blue dog, conservative Democrats. She doesn't Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/collapse-dede-scozzafava-moderate-republican-0 The Collapse of Dede Scozzafava, Moderate Republican ALBANY—"I liken it to Nancy Pelosi," Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, the last Republican to lose a Congressional election in New York, told me Oct. 22 when I asked if there was any chance his party would abandon his colleague Dede Scozzafava's sputtering--and now defunct--Congressional bid. "She's got 25 blue dog, conservative Democrats. She doesn't say, 'Well, Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/collapse-dede-scozzafava-moderate-republican Is There a Hoffman Scenario? ALBANY—Could Doug Hoffman actually win a seat in Congress?

He's been cast, understandably, in the spoiler role—the guy running to the right of Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who would siphon off enough votes from her that Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee, would win the race to replace John McHugh. But the legs Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/hoffman-scenario Domagalski Talks Up Collins (And Cox by Extension?) ALBANY—Erie County Republican Chairman Jim Domagalski has sent letters to Republican chairs and officials around the state reminding them that County Executive Chris Collins is a potential candidate for statewide office.

According to people who received the letters, it includes a summary of Collins' biography and accomplishments and explicitly mentions a statewide run.

"It Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/5127/domagalski-talks-collins-and-cox-extension 24 Chairs for Cox ALBANY—The chairs of 23 24 county Republican organizations have signed a letter supporting Ed Cox for state chairman, following a weekend "listening tour" in central New York and several weeks of conversations.

"Our friend and colleague Joe Mondello has served our party for many years in various capacities. He deserves our respect and gratitude Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4927/23-chairs-cox Attacking Owens by Attacking the Process, Obama CLIFTON PARK—Republicans are greeting the selection of Bill Owens, the newly minted Democratic candidate to replace John McHugh in Congress, with mockery.

"All of a sudden we've got to go out and get a non-party person to run on the Democratic ticket? I guess the question is, are they running away from their president?" Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4868/attacking-owens-attacking-process-obama Conservative House Candidate Hopes G.O.P. Chairs Un-Choose a Moderate ALBANY—Doug Hoffman isn't taking no for an answer.

The enrolled Republican was passed over during a selection process last month that made Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava the party's candidate to replace John McHugh in Congress. He announced he is seeking the Conservative Party's nomination, but he is also hoping Republican powers that Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4756/hoffman-still-fighting-republican-line-he-fights-conservative-line Republican Says Attacks Drove Aubertine Out Jim Ellis, the regional vice-chairman of the Republican Party, says the G.O.P.'s early focus and quick attacks against State Senator Darrel Aubertine "drove him out of the race" to replace John McHugh in Congress.

"We had to presume it was Aubertine," Ellis told me by phone. I asked him about the theory—which Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4636/republican-says-attacks-drove-aubertine-out Republicans Prepare to Face Aubertine for the McHugh Seat ALBANY—The candidate-selection process for the yet-to-be-called special election to

These preliminary processes are gravy anyway. And the Republicans think the Democrats, in particular, are just going through the motions.

"If you look at it, if they've extended their deadline by another week, the reason they're going to the 24th is that it's Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4560/republicans-prepare-face-aubertine-mchugh-seat Republicans Undertake an Actual Open Nominating Process for the McHugh Seat ALBANY—Republicans are determined not to let the special election in the 23rd Congressional District be a repeat of their against-the-odds loss earlier this year in the 20th District, starting with the selection process.

While the Capitol melted, the Republican State Committee detailed a system of four candidate forums in various parts of the district, Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4140/open-process-mchugh-seat Republicans Undertake an Actual Open Nominating Process for the McHugh Seat ALBANY—Republicans are determined not to let the special election in the 23rd Congressional District be a repeat of their against-the-odds loss earlier this year in the 20th District, starting with the selection process. While the Capitol melted, the Republican State Committee detailed a system of four candidate forums in various parts of the district, where Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/republicans-undertake-actual-open-nominating-process-mchugh-seat