Fascinating piece in The New York Times this morning on the shifting balance of power in the state, as the smart money, literally, moves to Democrats.

Anticipating a Democratic takeover of the New York State Senate this fall, real estate executives have begun courting Senate Democratic leaders, hoping to fend off what they expect will be aggressive efforts by tenant groups to revamp rent regulations next year. The effort represents a significant new approach for real estate interests, which for years have been closely allied with the Senate’s Republican majority. But after controlling the Senate for four decades, the Republicans now hold a bare one-seat majority and many strategists believe the Democrats are in a strong position to gain control of the chamber in November. Looking to block or water down an array of pro-tenant measures, including the repeal of vacancy decontrol, that have won support in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, real estate industry executives have stepped up their campaign donations to the Senate Democratic leadership, a review of campaign-contribution records shows. They are also continuing to contribute to Republicans.

Upsides and downsides: on the one hand, this is a clear sign of confidence by an interest known for cool-headed evaluations in who is going to be running the Senate come January, and it's not Angry Old Man Skelos. On the other, Democrats need to stick to the agenda that's going to win them in the election.