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New Hochul ad goes after Davis and Corwin; and other campaign news

By Howard B. Owens

In other campaign news, the Buffalo News has published a story saying that Corwin's critics are calling into question claims in her professional biography.

Also, House Speaker John Boehner is in Depew today, to support Corwin's campaign and take part in a fundraiser.

In response, Jack Davis is giving away free hot dogs at Zorba’s Texas Hots, just down the road from what Davis said is a $2,500 per-plate lunch with Boehner.

A Buffalo News article also notes that Hochul is having a hard time interesting House Democrats in financial and strategic support for her candidacy, even as she seems to be gaining ground on Corwin.

Finally, DailyKos claims to have Hochul's internal polling numbers, which shows the race going 31-30-26 for Corwin-Hochul-Davis. The post says the poll was conducted by Global Strategy Group, but doesn't say when or what the margin of error might be (but it's certainly within 1 percentage point, making this at least a two-way tie and possibly a three-way tie).

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: DailyKos is reporting that a new poll (which I think they're saying was commissioned by DailyKos and SEIU) shows Hochul with a lead in the race. The numbers break down 35 percent for Hochul, 31 for Corwin, 24 for Davis with 2 percent going to Murphy. Full spreadsheet of the poll here. One of the interesting charts is of the approval rating for the Republican-lead Congress, with 57 percent overall, and 35 percent of the Republicans in the district saying they disapprove.

UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: The DailyKos poll is making national news. Here's a story from Roll Call.

“I think they have a pretty long record of being inaccurate with their polls,” Corwin spokesman Matthew Harakal said of PPP.

When asked, Harakal declined to release internal polling from the Corwin campaign to counter the PPP survey.

“We’re very comfortable with where we are,” he said. “The fact is that Kathy Hochul and Jack are on the wrong side of the issues. The only poll that matters is on Election Day.”

Harakal also told Roll Call the lunch today was $150 per plate.

The progressive New Republican wonders if Corwin will become Paul Ryan's first "victim."

If Hochul pulls this out, it will exert a huge influence over the Congressional landscape. Democrats even in unfriendly districts will have a viable plan to unseat Republican incumbents. Meanwhile, Republicans, who have been riding high on ideological hubris, will suddenly come face to face with some cold political reality. 

UPDATE 8:49 p.m.: More on the race from The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Sean Carroll and WHAM13 has a run down of today's events in Erie County. So does Commentary Magazine.

George Richardson

Jane needs to thank her lucky stars that most people don't like to read and those that do have a very low comprehension level. If she gets the straight ticket know nothing vote she's home free. But, personally, even though I delivered newspapers fifty years ago and I have read them ever since it would be a stretch, and embarrassing, to say that I have been involved in journalism most of my life.

May 9, 2011, 1:32pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Hochul is having a hard time interesting House Democrats in financial and strategic support for her candidacy, even as she seems to be gaining ground on Corwin.

That's because the fix is in and the deal has been cut. Repugnicans can keep this seat if they promise not to go after a Demagogueocrat seat. Screw that, you can't trust either of 'em. It's about power and money, not what's best for the people of Western NY.

May 9, 2011, 2:02pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

I received an email invite to Davis' hot dog lunch. Odd choice of bait to lure a vegetarian... Of course Jack doesn't know me- anymore than he knows anyone else outside his circle.

Still it's intriguing to see two nouveau riche attempting to deny both their bankrolls and egotistical designs on public office.

I cite a video posted on The Beast; Ian Murphy in a parking lot, attired in colonial costume, banned from an 'open Tea Party Meeting.' Jane Corwin brushes by- eager to appear friendly yet obviously afraid of whatever Ian might transmit to her. His intended transmission was a pamphlet- not Bubonic Plague.

The more interesting vignette, however, was the inarticulate woman who insisted (paraphrasing) If you tax the rich, none of the millionaires and billionaires will want to stay here. They give us our jobs. Instead they will move to the Cayman Islands.

I believe it is the bank accounts that move to the Cayman Islands- not the persons. The millionaires and billionaires merely transform as politicians to write new tax laws making that woman (and those like her) assume a greater share of tax obligation. I believe the realization of higher transportation costs (vis-a-vis energy costs) is finally hitting home with the multinationals. It's more practical to stifle middle class wages approaching a break-even point with shipping costs than manufacture overseas.

May 9, 2011, 2:17pm Permalink
George Richardson

Dave, it sucks. But you still have to vote and talk like minded friends into going to vote too. If your Grandma is going to vote against your candidate be sure to tell her that you would love to drive her to the polls but you have a flat tire. Keep the faith. Is this a plurality race or will there be a runoff?

May 9, 2011, 2:18pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

Republican Jane Corwin has exaggerated her experience to the point it is fiction about her father’s business. Her father Wilbur Lewis and his business partner Leo Barron put together a clever business plan that was ahead of it’s time at the time, built the business up to a multi-state and then Wilbur who had 51% of the business forced Leo out of the business, a truly heartwarming story of success and ensuing intrigue. Jane the daughter of Wilbur now claims to have been a driving force and visionary from the time she was four years old, sort of like the Oracle of Delphi (intentional puns), guiding the family business in between play dates and her afternoon nap. Today our local heroine Jane wants to be the next representative in congress following Chris Lee whose love of the night life, fascination with transvestites and a pension for public exposure led to his political demise. She is presenting all the earmarks of a successful professional politician devoid of any conscience or remorse as long as she can thinks she can elected bending the truth about her own record of achievements to the breaking point and outright lies about her opponents. Jane if you stop telling lies about your opponents maybe they will stop telling the truth about you.

May 9, 2011, 3:10pm Permalink
James Renfrew

It's amusing that Corwin accuses Hochul of being a Pelosi clone. Were that the case, the money would have been flowing in from the DCCC, and Pelosi would be appearing on every street corner with her. But the money Hochul has raised is largely from within the district. A stark contrast to the self-funded campaigns of two millionaires. And amazing that Hochul is at the top of this most recent poll, even though she lacks the deep pockets they have.

Boehner is appearing with Corwin in the district today. And we can say with certainty that Corwin would be a Boehnerite in that she has stated that she would have voted for the Ryan Budget that the Republican leadership endorsed and EVERY Republican in the House supported. And that means she would have voted to privatize Medicare. Who is the clone?

By the way, the last time I volunteered in a soup kitchen it was hot dogs on the menu. I think Jack Davis may be onto something here, offering a taste of what's coming if the Republicans have there way with the Budget, Medicare and ultimately Social Security. Ooops, I forgot, Davis is a Republican ... maybe he let the dog out of the bag?

May 9, 2011, 3:55pm Permalink
George Richardson

Man, when I'm hungry I would much rather eat a fresh hot dog than a half a T-boner, scraped from the plate of an overly fed orange crybaby, that wound up in the dumpster.

May 9, 2011, 4:27pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

Zorba's is a Buffalo Institution. I'd rank the place right up there with Nick's and Gitsis' - a real epicurean treat. I may have to bypass Ted's the next time I'm up that way and stop in for three or four of those delicious dogs slathered in meat sauce.

May 9, 2011, 4:37pm Permalink
George Richardson

Ted's was pretty damn good. If Zorba's is better they must be working harder. I don't believe for one second that Jack Davis is a racist. I think he's grumpy and deservedly pissed off but he would be the best choice out of three. Ian Murphy is without a doubt the best choice out of four. Vote Vicariously on my behalf, please.

May 9, 2011, 4:45pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Back in the day, Kevin, after a long night tweaking the sound of some Rochester band, I'd stop off at Nick Tahou's and order a garbage plate with burgers, mac salad et al- but not slathered in meat sauce. I slathered it with Frank's hot sauce. To each his own...

May 10, 2011, 2:02am Permalink
Dave Olsen

"...the Ryan Budget that the Republican leadership endorsed and EVERY Republican in the House supported." Uh, James, point of clarification, 4 Republicans did not vote yes on Ryan's budget. One of them being a certain 70 something year old Obstetrician and 12 term congressman who does not participate in the congressional pension or healthcare programs, claims to have never received a medicare or medicaid payment for medical services rendered (he either worked something out with the patient or wrote it off pro bono). He also has a son who is a Republican Senator who won't vote for it either. Oh, yeah, he also will never vote for any bill which isn't supported by the Constitution. I believe Corwin would have voted for it BTW, I guess we'll never know for sure, but that's an educated guess.
http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/ron-pauls-vote-against-paul-ryan…

May 10, 2011, 7:47am Permalink
James Renfrew

Dave, Corwin has stated that she would have voted for the Ryan bill had she been seated in the House. She is also on record favoring Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare. As far as I know she hasn't blinked on this yet, though it appears that a fair number of Republicans are in full retreat on this now.

I stand corrected on the "EVERY" comment, though I can lamely state that I was 98% correct.

May 11, 2011, 9:17pm Permalink

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