Phil Anderson just called and alerted me to a story on his blog that's been bubbling sub rosa for a while.

That said, here's the skinny. Janine S------ was a Robach employee. She worked for Robach until last summer. Her husband, Tom S------, is a deputy sheriff in Monroe County.

He comes home one night to find Robach and his wife in the act. Needless to say, he was less than happy about this. He and (a naked) Robach get into a shouting match that eventually leads to a physical altercation. Let's just say the deputy won. He then kicked Robach, naked and worse for wear out on the front porch and called his wife to come pick his sorry ass up.

The deputy then tells his superiors what has happened and how he just kicked a Senator's ass. He does fully expecting to be in some sort of trouble. The deputy's bosses tell him to just keep quiet about it. He does and he has done so to this day, as far as I can tell.

But, he has suffered. There seems to be every indication that Robach is making the guy's life difficult, especially on the job. I mean, like it was the deputy's fault or something.

This story has been rumbling around out there for over a year and now a number of media outlets have started to make inquiries, one even went so far as to FOIL documents from both the the Monroe County SD as well as from Robach's own office. Which one? Think John Edwards.

The ultimate source for this story, apparently, is here, complete with dramatic atmospherics and a dramatized photo.

I'm going to be fair and not pass judgment on whether this is an accurate rendering of what happened, in part because I just don't know, but maybe someone should just ask?

The Dollinger campaign emails over something I'd heard of previously, but that's now official: their opponent, Joe Robach, is trying to pass himself off as a Democrat. Which makes sense, given that his district is likely to go for Obama two to one.

A STATEMENT FROM DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATE CANDIDATE RICK DOLLINGER BLASTING REPUBLICAN JOE ROBACH’S CAMPAIGN FOR MANIPULATING VOTERS

Rochester, NY – “Over the past several days my campaign has received numerous reports from within the city of Rochester and the town of Brighton alleging that Robach campaign volunteers have been going door-to-door in predominately Democratic neighborhoods asking voters to vote for Barack Obama and, much to my surprise, ‘Democrat’ Joe Robach.

This goes far beyond the typical dirty tricks we have come to expect from Republicans. And, I find the Robach campaign’s general disregard for voters appalling. Chalk this one up as another malicious attempt by State Senate Republicans to deceive voters in an effort to hold onto their slipping majority.

This deliberate manipulation lends further evidence to the argument that Republican Joe Robach will do whatever it takes to win, even if it means deceiving the same community he so frequently boasts his dedication to.

I am demanding that the Robach campaign immediately put a stop to this fraud, and that in the final days of the campaign we return to talking about the issues that matter to our community.”

Democrats need to pay attention to this stuff. It's very gratifying, and arguably a preview of things to come, that our opponents are pretending to be us - but we can't let them get away with it. Democrats need to advertise themselves as just that - Democrats, a part of the winning team that has better ideas for our state and our country.

We're seeing something happen these days that's a welcome change from cycles past: Democrats reaching out to our contenders for legislative seats and putting their muscle, and their name, behind the young blood.

For example, Hillary Clinton, not a woman with a particularly open schedule these days, has endorsed - and campaigned for Eric Massa, Dan Maffei, Brian Foley, Kristen McElroy, Don Barber, and others up and down the food chain. Similarly, Governor Paterson - the subject of much grumbling in the political class in the summer due to his attempts to play nice with Skelos - has raised money for Dollinger, Foley, Addabbo, and others. All of this is announced in a daily stream of email releases.

What could bring our normally fractious Democrats together like that? Bright red oozing billows of blood in the water, for one thing; the other side has never had a weaker bench or a worse environment. This is the endgame, the final battle for New York; and I think we're going to win.

A reader emails in these photos of Senator Joe Robach's government office. Notice something?

Hmmm, would that be a campaign sign on property leased by the government?

Oh, look, another one.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

I'll freely confess that Rick Dollinger is one of my favorite candidates this cycle. He has a very impressive presence, he's thoughtful, and when he was still in the Senate, he was one of the guardians of that body's traditions and decorum, not a small thing in my mind.

He's also running what I'd argue is the smartest campaign in this state this cycle. Case in point: this unity rally his campaign is holding, with the goal of unifying Democrats around their entire slate of candidates from Barack Obama on down. Here, have a look.

The holy grail for Democrats in this cycle is utilizing Obama's coat-tails; with Obama leading McCain in this state by 61% to 34%, identifying a down-ballot candidacy with the Presidential nominee is game-changing. Here's a piece of free advice: all Democratic Congressional and Senate candidates should do something like this.

Three weeks out, we're seeing the consolidation of traditional Democratic coalitions around the state (personal aside: I think we're on the cusp of a system-wide, up-and-down-the-ballot landslide, but I'll expand on that later).

Here, for example, is Brian Foley, running against dynamic bundle of energy Caesar Trunzo in the Third, at a rally for women.

The accompanying press release lays out the stakes.

More than 20 women, along with elected officials and representatives from Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice America, gathered today to support Brian X. Foley's run for State Senate. This is the inaugural event for a new group of women in Brookhaven and Islip who are coming together to elect Foley. These women were joined by Assemblywoman Ginny Fields, Assemblywoman Pat Eddington, Legislator Kate Browning, and Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice NY also endorsed Brian X. Foley for State Senate at this event. "In this election, the choice is clear," said Reina Schiffrin, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund. "Senator Trunzo is the embodiment of the old Albany – mired in the status quo, entrenched in the past. After almost 40 years, woman of Long Island are hungry for a representative who will fight for them, not against them. Brian Foley will bring the integrity and results that Albany desperately needs."

"I am honored to stand with the women of Islip and Brookhaven to proclaim that change is needed now," said Brian X. Foley. "For too long, Caesar Trunzo and his failed majority in Albany have shut out the voices of women and their families, allying instead with corporate interests. I believe that the future begins with the women of this District."

Senator Caesar Trunzo has an abysmal voting record on issues affecting families and women. He voted against insurance companies covering mammograms for women over 40, and voted against cervical cancer screenings. He also opposes the Paid Family Leave Act, Pay Equity Act, and voted against expanding Family Health Plus and controlling rising health insurance premiums, which have skyrocketed 67% in the last three years alone.

Meanwhile, up in Rochester, Rick Dollinger just garnered the endorsement of Senator Clinton, and held a rally for women attended by hundreds of supporters.

Okay, City people, listen up. Yes, there's a primary on Tuesday, one that, per the antics of blog monkeys for challenged incumbents, has generated a bit more heat than light. And yes, it's important whether we have slothful Democrats of the fatigued-by-eternal-incumbency variety, or younger, fresher talents. So go out and vote on Tuesday.

But there's a big state outside of the five boroughs, where the real election happens in November. One race you need to be paying attention to is that between Democrat Rick Dollinger and republican Joe Robach. Think of everything you hate about the republican party: the pride-filled ignorance, the extremism, the opposition to equal rights for anyone who's not a straight white man, the sheer ugliness of a discredited, un-American creed. All of that is made flesh in one single figure, State Senator Joe Robach. Joe Robach is the reason republicans need to go, pure and simple.

Rick Dollinger is now on the air making just that case. Enjoy.

On the web: Rick Dollinger for Senate

Ah, republicans - as ever, unwilling to face the voters or debate their opponents. Remember this?

That's Craig Johnson showing up to debate Maureen O'Connell back in 2007. Craig won that election.

Well, here's Rick Dollinger showing up to debate republican Senator Joe Robach in the 56th Senate District.

When are republicans going to learn that they can't run away from the voters?

The DSCC is hitting republican misfit Senator Joe Robach hard via mail this week. Here are two pieces going out in the 56th District.

One more and some thoughts, over the fold.