This past Saturday, I accompanied Jimmy Dahroug as he stumped for signatures. It was an eye-opening experience that all those (especially at the state party & senate campaign committee) who may be on the fence about Jimmy should have.

We were ringing doorbells for about three and a half hours. In all that time, there was one, and only one, registered Democrat who wouldn't sign Jimmy's petition. She did give her blessing to her 18-year-old son, however, when he wanted to sign it, so it was clear that she never signs anything. Several others were reluctant to sign at first, until they heard Jimmy talk about his campaign and his issues, and read the literature he brought.

An editorial (available here) in a recent edition of the Times Beacon Record, a group of Long Island newspapers, lays it out beautifully. Brian Foley isn't a bad guy, but he isn't the kind of tenacious fighter that the district -- and all New Yorkers -- need in the state Senate.

In addition, it should be noted once again that Foley's last-minute entry into the race caused a three-way primary, whereas if he had either gotten in last year or stayed out completely, we'd have a nominee right now. It seems that Doug Forand and the other powermongers in Albany haven't been paying attention to the situation on the ground in Islip/Brookhaven.

I read with utter fascination my fellow progressive bloggers comments regarding the potential Democratic nominee for this Long Island District that has been my home for forty years. I have read some patently partisan posts by supporters of the Democratic nominee of the past two cycles who regrettably used our progressive blogs to launch a preemptive-strike at the NYS DSCC and one of our local Democratic Islip Town Councilman, Chris Bodkin. I also read with great interest Phillip Anderson's excellent post regarding a potential primary. Phillip, who I respect greatly provided a very reasoned and sobering view of a primary challenge.