Just heard (through two sources and partly confirmed on NY-1) that Frank Powers, Sr., Republican candidate to replace the disgraced Republican Vito Fossella for the NY-13 Conrgessional seat, has died, possibly of a heart attack.

This tragic turn continues the series of bad luck that have dogged the Republicans in the NY-13 race. Perhaps the district is living up to its number vis a vis the Republicans.

After Vito Fossella's disgrace, caught both DWI and engaged in bigamy, more or less, the Republicans have had a hard time finding a candidate to run. Finally they roped in Frank Powers, an MTA board member. His candidacy immediately seemed to run into problems when his son, also called Frank Powers, decided to run for the same seat as a Libertarian. Meanwhile Steve Harrison and Mike McMahon compete for the Democratic seat while the Conservative Party was considering Mike McMahon because he had convinced them he supported Bush's war.

So it looked like we'd have TWO Frank Powers running. Now it seems we have none. The son lost the Libertarian nomination to Susan Overeem and the father has now died.  read more »