Via an emailed press release, the National Organization of Women's New York chapter has endorsed Steve Harrison in the Congressional primary for NY-13.

(Staten Island/Brooklyn) -- The National Organization for Women (NOW) will announce its formal endorsement of Steve Harrison as the strongest supporter of women’s rights in the race for New York’s 13th Congressional District (Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn) Democratic nomination in a 2:00 PM Wednesday Aug. 20 press conference at the Staten Island Hotel, 1415 Richmond Ave., Staten Island, NY.

Harrison is running against New York City Councilman Michael McMahon in the Democratic Primary which will be held Tues., Sept. 9.

"NOW PAC is pleased to endorse Steve Harrison for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York," said NOW Political Action Committee Chair Kim Gandy. "We look forward to voters in Staten Island and Brooklyn sending a strong supporter of women's rights to Washington. Steve has the values we need to improve the lives of women and families in this country."

The Brooklyn Queens NOW Political Action Committee (BQ NOW PAC) recommended that the Washington-based organization headed by Gandy endorse Harrison. With a member-base of over 500,000 NOW is the largest organization of feminists in the country.

“We were impressed with Steve Harrison’s grasp of and support of our core issues: constitutional equality for women, reproductive rights, equal economic opportunity, stopping violence against women and ending gender and sexual orientation discrimination,” said Shirley Ranz, the chair of the local NOW PAC.

BQ-NOW Vice President Rachelle Suissa added, “If given the opportunity, Steve will definitely be the candidate who holds true to the values of women and minorities and who works to uphold civil rights and liberties each and every day. His ideology, experience, and candor all speak for themselves when it comes to these issues.”

McMahon’s record opposing abortion and his lukewarm support of other gender issues in general while a member of the New York City Council was also a factor in the endorsement, NOW officials said.

“McMahon is a political conservative who opposed choice when his vote counted in NYC Council,” noted BQ NOW Secretary Sherry Rogers. “We cannot support someone who waivers in his support of our issues to placate his RTL constituency. They have the Republicans for that. Who will speak for women; Steve Harrison!”

That's a very notable endorsement, especially if national NOW follows through on it. It also further substantiates that the primary in that district will be heavily tinged by an identification of the two candidates with the left and center-right wings of the party. Whether that's entirely in congruence with the personalities of the two candidates seems to me at least to be somewhat doubtful, but that certainly seems to be the positioning both camps are aiming for.