by James Oliphant, and updated
Remember when elections actually, you know, settled things?
Even as Norm Coleman and Al Franken fight their own version of The Forever War in Minnesota, we have a new too-close-to-call election.
In New York's 20th congressional district, Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco are separated by literally a handful of votes. This morning, Murphy, a venture capitalist from Glens Falls, N,Y., leads Tedisco, a longtime state assemblyman, by a mere 65 tallies.
The result means virtually nothing in terms of the power dynamic in Washington, where Democrats control the House by a wide margin. But the race has been widely viewed as an early referendum on the Obama administration. (See this Swamp entry from Tuesday.)
Both are running to replace former Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat who was named to the Senate in January to replace Hillary Clinton.
Murphy was trailing in the Republican-leaning district by 12 points a month ago, but drew close even as Tedisco and national GOP groups pounded him over his support of Obama' stimulus plan, which contained a clause that permitted $165 million in bonuses to be paid to executives at government-supported American International Group.
Republicans poured more that $2 million into the race in the hope of securing a new, national talking point about the direction of the country under Barack Obama. A convincing GOP win arguably would have sent a message that voters are concerned about Democrats' handling of the economy.
Such a win now appears unlikely, even if Tedisco pulls it out. (Absentee ballots have yet to be counted.) The D,C, newspaper POLITICO says today that means that the result actually inurs to Obama's benefit.
But Republicans are pushing back at that idea, noting that Gillibrand was extremely popular in the district, handily winning re-election last fall, while Obama, too, carried the district. And both Sens. Charles Schumer and then-Sen. Clinton both won the district in their respective races. So if Tedisco does pull it out, they argue, it will be a significant dent in Obama's armor.
House Republican leader John Boehner is talking victory for Tedisco. "When all the ballots are counted, I'll be proud to escort Jim Tedisco down the Senate aisle of the House to be sworn in as our newest member," he said Wednesday.
Comments
"Remember when elections actually, you know, settled things?"
I do. I even remember when journalists actually, you know, reported things.
Reported. Instead of trying to spin a "tie" into a victory for the journalist's favorite, Obama. But what can you say about a reporter who labels his source, the online journal politico.com, a "D, C, newspaper" [sic]?
The results make it look likely that the Republicans have taken over a Dem held seat. Which would be the 2nd GOP pickup in 3 by-elections since President HopeyChangey took office.
Methinks the DNC can't be too happy with that.
Posted by: Arthur Henning | April 1, 2009 11:41 AM
This is a GOP-majority district where the GOP candidate had been up by 20 points a few months ago. That the Dem is now slightly ahead is a major accomplishment.
Those idiots on Fox are trying to make this into a defeat for Obama. Gillibrand won big because she beat a scandalized GOPer and was an extreme Blue Dog. Don;'t compare last election's results with this.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 1, 2009 11:55 AM
Close only counts in horseshoes.
Which ever guy wins the most votes is the winner.
Period.
Posted by: micki | April 1, 2009 11:59 AM
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Posted by Arthur Henning:
But what can you say about a reporter who labels his source, the online journal politico.com, a "D, C, newspaper" [sic]?
=====
Perhaps you've never been to Washington DC but Politico publishes a dead tree version as well. Commonly known as a "newspaper".
Posted by: Jeff V. | April 1, 2009 12:23 PM
Does a tie go to Obama?
Funny...I remember when a question mark after the words meant a question to be considered. Now it's spin. Funny indeed.
Posted by: bill r. | April 1, 2009 2:02 PM
Looks like America is waking up and studding the internet rather than being sucked in by liberal newspapers and ABC.
Posted by: Inky | April 1, 2009 2:30 PM
"Jeff V.", perhaps you should click on what the Swamp journalist cited as his source, and what he linked to. Hint: it has a ".com" at the end of it.
A news source with a ".com" is commonly known as a "website", not a newspaper. And in case I'm going too fast for you, the "click" is something you do on your computer with that thing called a "mouse."
Posted by: Arthur Henning | April 1, 2009 2:30 PM
All they care about is the seat...I understand there was a lot of gerrymandering done to get this to be a republican seat. They are running scared they will lose it come census time next year. Better know a re-district should be Colbert's focus next year.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 1, 2009 2:35 PM
Last night's results are a testament to the pathetic shape of today's Republican Party. Even in an election which saw the deck stacked heavily in their favor, they keep finding ways to screw up.
Heckuva Job, Wingnuts!
Posted by: Jim Greenwell | April 1, 2009 3:24 PM
Whining, puking Republicans. They lost....again. They should get over it.
If they don't, We New Yorkers are watching. And we don't appreciate having our taxes wasted on the Republican Party's sore loser grandstanding. We may have to vote out the few remaining Republicans in New York to get any relief from their constant nonproductive whining.
Posted by: Todd Duffield | April 1, 2009 3:29 PM
This race was in a Republican leaning district, Kirsten Gillibrand was the first Dem to win it in years. The Republicans should have won this one with ease.
Way to go Michael Steele, you're the best weapon the Dems could have ever asked for!
Posted by: Hal Peterson | April 1, 2009 3:33 PM
What the journalist doesn't tell you: the Democrat won this seat in November by 24%.
So the GOP does 24% better than 4 months ago, and the Left wingnuts call this a victory for Obama?
Posted by: Arthur Henning | April 1, 2009 3:46 PM
So the GOP does 24% better than 4 months ago, and the Left wingnuts call this a victory for Obama?
Posted by: Arthur Henning | April 1, 2009 3:46 PM
...............
Republican Jim Tedisco was up by 20% in this Republican district less than a month ago. So to answer your question, no, I don't consider this a victory for Obama, I consider it a pathetic job of blowing a huge lead and losing it by Republicans Jim Tedisco and RNC chair Michael Steele.
The Repug party is a joke on a nation wide scale.
Posted by: allardice | April 1, 2009 4:06 PM
NY-20: Remember when Boehner said this?
.
"This election is on March 31st, and it is a giant opportunity for Republicans to let America know that America is on our side"
- John Boehner
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003063357
So, is the Republicon parties inability to seal the deal last night in a district in which they have a 70,000-voter registration advantage, while running the NY Assembly's minority leader (Tedisco) against an unknown Democrat (Murphy), mean that Boehner must admit that America isn't on their side?
Because America isn't on the Republicons side, even if their leader, Mullah Limbaugh, thinks last night was a smashing success for them.
Posted by: Bobby | April 1, 2009 4:28 PM
====
Arther Henning wrote:
""Jeff V.", perhaps you should click on what the Swamp journalist cited as his source, and what he linked to. Hint: it has a ".com" at the end of it."
=====
So when I link to the Tribune's website and refer an article on there, the Chicago Tribune ceases to be a newspaper? That's real interesting. Politico.com is the website for the Politico newspaper. Just as Chicagotribune.com is the website for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Modern media is a wonderous and amazing thing, huh? Pity that it gets confusing for you sometime.
Posted by: Jeff V. | April 1, 2009 5:29 PM
NY, NY let them all go democrat.
Just want to invite the people who will be paying the exhorbitant taxes to move to Florida.
It's cheaper, your home is your castle (plenty of well priced homes available).
Try it. It's worth the move. Half of NY is here already, anyway.
Bring more culture to South Florida.
Posted by: brock | April 1, 2009 5:38 PM
Down by 25 votes with the military absentee votes to count. Good chance of GOP.
.
Gillibrand won this election 5 months ago with 62% of the vote, now its dead-even. It's a statement either about her being a great Congresswoman, Murphy being so-so, or BO's biog gov't ideas
Posted by: Terry | April 1, 2009 9:08 PM