The special election in CD20 has taken on national prominence in recent weeks. Tedisco has refused to take a stance on President Obama’s stimulus package, and the Republicans are approaching this race as an opportunity to turn it into a referendum on the administration’s economic policies. Both the national Democratic and Republican parties are now throwing $s at TV ads for CD20 :
Prior to this week, the only nat’l cmte ads in this race were on the radio. But that ended 3/5, when the NRCC went up with a new TV ad attacking businessman Scott Murphy (D) for approving bonuses for executives of a company that was losing money ("Let’s get a steak" may go down as one of the more memorable lines of this cycle’s TV advertising).
Shortly after this, the DCCC responded, and bought airtime for ads beginning this weekend and airing through election day. This should come as no surprise, as polls are showing a tightening, but still comfortable, Tedisco lead. But despite the CD’s heavy GOP registration, it gave Pres. Obama a slight win, and then-Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) won a significant victory in ’08.
The decisions by the cmte’s aren’t surprises, but it shows that these next three-and-a-half weeks are going to get very ugly in Upstate NY.
MYD supports Scott Murphy, and the race is tightening. Phone banks are open 6-9PM on weekdays and 12-8PM on weekends at the Democratic HQ in New York City, 461 Park Avenue South @ 31st Street on the 10th Floor. Email cd20nyc [at] gmail [dot] com or call 212-725-8825 to get involved. You can join the Facebook group here .
