Reshma Saujani is challenging Carolyn Maloney in the NY-14 Democratic Primary………………

In a race in New York ‘s 14th Congressional District we have two very different women running with two very different bases…….

Maloney has held the seat since 1993…..and has union and established voters …..

Saujani a Lawyer and a business woman…..is apealing to the ethnic new voters in the district..which covers Manhattan and Queens……..

Maloney has big name funders……and Saujani works the internet……

Here’s something on the race…..

To win in politics, you gotta have friends. Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s are in high places, whereas challenger Reshma Saujani’s are on Twitter.

Maloney launched her campaign at the Yale Club, where supporters including Gloria Steinem and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn raised $100,000.

Before she officially announced her candidacy, Saujani cultivated an online presence through Facebook, a Huffington Post Op-Ed and a regularly updated Twitter feed.

The differences in their approaches to capturing the congressional District 14 seat, representing most of Manhattan’s east side, point to a generational divide in campaign styles that Saujani has used to her advantage.

Saujani said at a meet and greet with supporters last month that reaching voters through social networking is the campaign’s conscious effort to follow President Barack Obama’s succesful strategy.

“I hope we can do the same thing,” she said “We’re like the start up candidate.”

Young, tech entrepreneurs have flocked to her campaign, raising $20,000 at the hip Gramercy home of Vault founder Sam Hamadeh at a party hosted with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Guest of a Guest reported.

Where Saujani has twittered and blogged her way to support from the technocrati, Maloney has turned to the bedrock alliance of women’s groups and unions that she’s built during her 17 years in office.

Established Democratic backers such as Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York and the Women’s Campaign Forum have thrown their support behind Maloney.

“Power in Washington is tenure, and she’s got seniority,” said Siobahn “Sam” Bennett, president and CEO of WCF. “That doesn’t mean Reshma isn’t a great candidate, she is, but Carolyn is essential.”

Organizers for Maloney’s campaign dismissed the idea that there was a generational divide between the campaigns.

More……..

Note:…….Saujani has annouced her campaign staff….. which has ties to the Obama Administration (?!!)…..

Reshma Saujani, who is challenging Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a Democratic primary, announced she has a field team in place.

They include an Obama White House intern, an Obama organizer who worked in North Carolina, and an Obama campaign aide who worked on Rep. Scott Murphy’s campaign upstate.

Here’s the release……

Elliot Spitzer Hosting on MSNBC…….

Eliott Spitzer is on his way back into New Yorker’s hearts…….

He filled in today on MSNBC………

TVNewser has learned that former New York governor Eliot Spitzer will be substitute hosting for Dylan Ratigantoday on MSNBC at 4pmET.

Spitzer, who resigned from office amid a prostitution scandal, has increased his TV news appearances as he considers — or at least does not rule out — a return to politics telling Fortune magazine, “Right now, I can tell you I have a family that is in one piece… That’s a measure of success after what we went through.”

MSNBC’s Monica Novotny will be the news anchor on set during today’s show.

Maybe he’ll run for Controller of New York State? (2014)…….Going for Gillibrand’s Senate job might piss too many people off…….

Update……..

Lights, camera … Spitzer?

After years of being interviewed about his political successes – and glaring failures – Eliot Spitzer was on the other side of the microphone on Thursday.

Spitzer surprised regular MSNBC viewers who tuned into “The Dylan Ratigan Show” – and instead saw the former governor filling in as the guest host.

“Eliot has been a frequent guest on Dylan’s show and has provided our viewers with terrific insight into the financial crisis. With Dylan off today, it was the perfect opportunity to have him co-host the hour,” said MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines.

Spitzer was forced out of office by a prostitution scandal less than two years after taking office.

The Democrat who won the 2006 governor’s race in a landslide said in a recent interview he feels “unceasing agony” about not being “where \[he\] would like to be” – that being finishing up his first term as governor.

Spitzer quizzed his guests on everything from the Wall Street bailouts to the future of the Republican party.

Some addressed Spitzer, who wore a pinstriped suit and blue tie, as “Eliot,” while others stuck with “Governor.”

More……..

Why would you be surprised about him grilling people?…..He WAS New York States AG and Governor…he might have been careless with his ‘Johnson’…but he isn’t a dumb man …..by a long shot………

As Crist goes…..Meek goes…….

The Dog is watching the Crist and Rubio do their dance…….

If Crist stays in this race as an Independent…..

Well then Rep. Kendrick Meek could very well become the next Senator from Florida……

I’m not sure whether or not to trust this release. On the one hand, it sounds pretty firm, but on the other hand, if Crist really is thinking about running as an Independent, of course he’ll deny it right up the last second. Surely he learned a lesson from the Lieberman in-primary backlash. One also wonders why he would mention Teddy Roosevelt in his press release in this day of Tea Parties. Glenn Beck has demonized TR, turning him into one of America’s most feared historical enemies, and the GOP primary base is eating it up. That sounds more like general election talk than Repub primary speak to me.

Be that as it may, all of this is good news for the Democratic candidate, Rep. Kendrick Meek. TheRCP polling average shows a Crist-Meek matchup at 46.5-32.3 for Crist, with Crist topping 50% in one poll and Meek never doing better than a 9 point loss. Rubio-Meek, however, is just 44.3-35.5, and Meek even pulls within one point in a Research 2000 poll from 3/15-3/17. Throw Crist in the mix and you have to assume he takes more votes from Rubio than from Meek………

More from Nathan Empsall @ MyDD.Com ……

If the Economy is recovering…..Why is everyone arguing with me?……..

Lately every time I mention that the Economy is recovering ……I have people arguing with me…..

They are adamant that the Economy can’t be getting better….

They know people who have lost their jobs…..

The local School District is raising it’s taxes…..

The State is raising its taxes……

You know……..

We’re suffering…….

I can’t beat that….if that’s the way they feel……

But the Dog has been watching the little sign for the past 6 to 8 months and believes that things are better…..

I spoke to a guy around the way that is one of top salesman in a regional Appliance Chain…..

He says the traffic HAS increased…..

His buddy who used to the manager of the store ( which a top sales leader for the chain and does in the millions ) went into Real Estate and is finally starting to get some sales….

Antidotal stuff sure…..but nevertheless stores like his are true barometers of the Economy and they are getting busy…..

One last thing from him…..

He said that prices are dropping and manufactures MUST give incentives to move products….

Here’s a piece about the same subject….

The American economy appears to be in a cyclical recovery that is gaining strength. Firms have begun to hire and consumer spending seems to be accelerating.

That is what usually happens after particularly sharp recessions, so it is surprising that many commentators, whether economists or politicians, seem to doubt that such a thing could possibly be happening.

Usually you can depend on the White House to view the economy with the most rose-tinted glasses available. But it was not until last week, after a strong employment report, that President Obama started to sound a little optimistic.

“The tough measures that we took — measures that were necessary even though sometimes they were unpopular — have broken this slide and are helping us to climb out of thisrecession,” he said in a speech at a factory making battery components in North Carolina.

Note, however, that he seemed to believe the country remained in recession. It is virtually certain that is not accurate, as least as will be determined by the arbiters of recession at the National Bureau of Economic Research. “The recession is over,” one of those arbiters, Jeffrey Frankel of Harvard, wrote this week.

But the White House is unwilling to make that claim.

Why is good news being received with such doubt? Why is “new normal” the currently popular economic phrase, signifying that growth will be subpar for an extended period, and that the old normal is no longer something to be expected?

It is possible, of course, that I am wrong and the prevalent pessimism is correct. The fact many economic indicators are looking up does not prove that the recovery will be self-sustaining. There are issues relating to over-indebted consumers and local governments. The housing collapse will have an impact for some time.

But there are, I think, a number of reasons for the glum outlook that are unrelated to the actual economic data.

More……..

Ex-New York Giant Tiki Barber leaves wife and two kids for his traveling companion….

And dig this….his wife is eight months pregnant …with twins…….

And Oh, yea NBC has cancelled one of his gigs……

He better get busy quick….Four kids is gonna cost him…….

Tiki Barber‘s 23-year-old girlfriend convinced her family she was baby-sitting for the ex-Giants star as their romance heated up and his marriage fell apart.

Blond beauty Traci Johnson‘s father and aunt both believed the former NBC intern was helping out – instead of hooking up with – the three-time All-Pro and father of two.

“That’s what [her dad] Ernest told me,” said Johnson family neighbor Bob Drabik.

Johnson’s aunt, who lives near her small hometown of Pine Bush in upstate Orange County, confirmed that family members believed the stunner was taking care of Barber’s children. But a source close to the Barbers called the baby-sitting tale “100% categorically untrue.”

What’s not disputed is that Barber – who turned 35 Wednesday – split from his eight months pregnant wife after 11 years in a move that came out of the Big Blue.

More……..

What is it with Baby sitters and Sports guys?

And dig this…His wife is carrying twins….. due in two months……..

Update from the New York Post with pictures of Barber and his estranged wife Ginny…..

Virginia Governor McDonnell responds to backlash and apoligizes……..

I didn’t know that Confederate History Month has been called by most of the recent REPUBLICAN governors of Virgina…..

Wow!…that’s interesting……

Anyways…..McDonnell…who’s a smart guy……

Woke up and has tried to make things a bit better by acknowledging that the American Civil War had something to do with Slavery……

I still think even mentioning the month as voluntary thing sucks……..

After taking a pounding by Democrats, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) “apologized for omitting a reference to slavery in his proclamation designating April as Confederate History Month and amended it to include a condemnation of ‘the evil and inhumane practice,'” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

“The Republican governor revived the Confederate proclamation after an eight-year hiatus under Democratic governors, and he drew swift objections from Democrats who yesterday took to the national airwaves to blast him.”

Politico: “The governor did not rescind his original statement but added language recognizing slavery and stated flatly that the practice led to the Civil War — a widely accepted historical view but one that may stir anger  among the corps of Lost Cause traditionalists who liked his original statement.”

More from PoliticalWire……

Daniel…..llinois Governor: RAS confirms PPP, Brady up 7 Points over Quinn……

Hello Dog and good afternoon!

We’ve now Polling Confirmation that State Senator Bill Brady (R-IL) is leading the Illinois Governor Race. The new Rasmussen Survey shows Brady leading Incumbent Patrick “Pat” Quinn (D-IL) by 7 Points.

Rasmussen Survey

Illinois Governor 2010

General Election

[ Gov Quinn and  State Sen. Brady ]

State Senator Bill Brady (R)  45 %
Incumbent Governor Patrick “Pat” Quinn (D)  38 %
Others  7 %
Undecided  10 %

Major Candidates Campaign Websites:

http://bradyforillinois.com/
http://www.quinnforillinois.com/

Job Approvals

President Barack Obama (D)

Approve  58 %
Disapprove  41 %

Governor Patrick “Pat” Quinn (D)

Approve  43 %
Disapprove  56 %

Analysis:

So the second Poll confirms Quinn is in deep dudu. EVEN “The Dog” can’t dispute that.

Daniel G.

He, he, he..Yea I could….but you’re right……..

But I’ll say it again…Quinn has a few lives left..If he can somehow get the tax thing off  the voters minds..he’ll be back on top……

Al Gore is Mad at Obama on Oil Drilling…….

Uh, Oh!…….

I knew the Oil Drilling thing was gonna make some people mad…..

Turns out It’s got Al Gore not happy at all…….

President Barack Obama’s decision to allow expanded offshore oil drilling prompted the first public criticism of his administration from Al Gore’s environmental advocacy group, the Alliance for Climate Protection.

The organization, which the former vice president founded and chairs, put out a statement last week opposing the new policy.

The statement is significant because it marks Gore’s first break with Obama on his signature policy issue, nearly two years after Gore’s enthusiastic endorsement gave the Illinois senator a jolt of momentum following the divisive Democratic presidential primary.

Gore and the Alliance have appeared to avoid direct criticism of the president in the past when they’ve had disagreements, and have often cheered on the administration.

When Obama announced a plan to back construction of new nuclear power plants, another move denounced by environmental groups, Gore’s group remained silent.

More……..

Daniel….. Missouri Senate: Race is now consistent; Blunt leading Carnahan by 6 Points…..Update….

Hello Dog!

The Missouri Senate Race seems to have settled down for awhile with most Surveys having Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) ahead of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D-MO) by a 4-6 Point margin.

In fact a new Survey just confirms it.

Rasmussen Survey

Missouri Senate 2010

General Election

United States Representative Roy Blunt (R)  48 %
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D)  42 %
Others  3 %
Undecided  7 %

Major Candidates Campaign Websites:

http://www.royblunt.com/
http://www.robincarnahan.com/

Job Approvals

President Barack Obama (D)

Approve  40 %
Disapprove  59 %

Governor Jay Nixon (D)

Approve  59 %
Disapprove  37 %

Analysis:

Nothing new to report here. Blunt still leads and this is now pretty consistant.

Daniel G.

Update:

For those Republicans who are living in Indiana turn on your TV as there is a GOP Senate Debate this afternoon at 4pm ET the Indianapolis Star reports:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100408/NEWS05/100408020/GOP-U.S.-Senate-hopefuls-debate-today

Daniel…… Indiana Senate: Daniel G. endorses State Senator Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) in the Republican Senate Primary……Update….

Hello Republican fellows!

Folks, I’ve toyed a long time with this because I was torn between two Candidates so TODAY I’m ready to PROUDLY announce my Support for State Senator Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) in the Indiana Republican Senate Primary. Over the last months I’ve closely examined Former Rep. John Hostettler (whom my friend SE over at Conservative State Project endorsed) and Stutzman.

I came to the conclusion that Stutzman has everything what it takes to be a good Senator. He’s young, charismatic and shares the Hoosiers Values.

Marlin needs your help to win on May 4th so please go to his Website:

http://www.gomarlin.com/

P. S.:

My Endorsement doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t support Hostettler or Coats if they were to win the Primary.

I WILL SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN Nominee BUT for now I’m with Stutzman.

After all WE MUST STOP the big Democratic Spending Agenda from Pelosi & Reid & Obama and return to fisical Resposibility and OUR Conservative Values.

Proudly Stutzman Endorser

Daniel G.

Update:

For those Republicans who are living in Indiana turn on your TV as there is a GOP Senate Debate this afternoon at 4pm ET the Indianapolis Star reports:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100408/NEWS05/100408020/GOP-U.S.-Senate-hopefuls-debate-today

You can watch the Debate here:

http://www.wxnt.com/

The Live begins at 3pm ET.