NY-26 is having a special election to replace Chris Lee, whom we all remember as
NY-26 is about as Republican a district that you can find in New York state. And it looks like the Democrat, Kathy Hochul, is going to win. The caveat is that polling in special elections is tricky, but she has opened consistent and measurable leads.
At first, the issue was Tea Party whackadoodle Jack Davis who made it a three-way race. This let Hochul in the door. Then Republican Jane Corwin's staff engaged in some amateurish dirty tricks against Davis. Part of the result is that as Davis's support dwindled, it was Hochul - not Corwin - who benefitted.
But there's another and more interesting reason for that. Hochul has made the election a referendum on the Ryan budget. She has hit Corwin consistently and aggressively on her vote for it.
Given that your average Teatard is over 55, there wouldn't be much reason for them to care about Ryan's efforts to end Medicare as we know it. Except maybe, just maybe, the backlash against the radical wealth redistribution present in Ryan's budget is enough to upset everyone.
If Hochul does indeed win, the effect on the Senate vote on the Ryan budget will be interesting. Scott Brown looks to be running away from his earlier support. Olympia Snowe is in a tight spot, as she is sure to have a Tea Party challenger anyway.
Ryan's plan was always an ugly, naked assault on the basic social contract in America. People in DC, including many Congressional Democrats, couldn't see that.
Maybe if Hochul wins the special tonight, they will see it.
No comments:
Post a Comment