The Democratic Party is on the verge of claiming complete control of the New York State government. There is a Democratic governor, and Democrats make up about two-thirds of the state Assembly. The last remaining Republican holdout is the state Senate, and Democrats are only two seats away from a majority there. In addition, the watchword for this election is "change," and Democrats are on the "change bandwagon."

The major stumbling block to turning the state Senate blue is that Republicans have several million dollars available. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) has $1.7 million in cash, compared with just under $1.3 million for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC). As of a week ago, the Democratic state party committee had a tiny advantage over the Republican state party committee, $418K to $360K. In addition, over the last two months the SRCC had transferred far more to individual candidates than the DSCC had transferred to its candidates.

In other words, Democrats need a major transfusion of money, and there's no time to raise it.

There is a source of money that might be tapped. After a three-way primary in which he got 68% of the vote, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver still has $2.5 million in his own campaign account. State law only allows him to transfer small amounts to other candidates' campaign accounts, but it also allows him (or any candidate) to transfer as much as he wants to the DSCC, which could then transfer all they want to individual Senate candidates' campaign committees.

In other words, he could send $1.5 million to the DSCC, which would give Democrats a huge leg up in the battle to win the state Senate, and still keep a million dollars.

But wait - there's more!

In Brooklyn I am used to the period of petition posturing, where each candidate compares the size of their petitions and challenges the validity of the other's petitions while screaming foul over any challenge to their petitions. It is all part of the game. This election is the first time I have observed the process taking place elsewhere (though I knew it happend) partly because some of the posturing has taken place here on DG. There has been considerable discussion over the 1400 signatures collected by Jimmy Dahroug vs. the 3000 signatures collected by Brian Foley in a race that requires 1000 signatures. The assumption has been that 3000 signatures was unchallengable while 1400 was going to be challenged and Dahroug would get kicked off the ballot because he hadn't collected enough signatures to cover his petitioning ass.

I made two points in this whole discussion. First: neither number is all that impressive to me since I know people who, using petitioning as a chance to meet the voters and get their name out, collect 5000 door-to-door, unchallengable signatures in a race that only requires 1000. Neither Jimmy nor Brian have much to brag about by Brooklyn standards.

In our quest to win the State Senate SD-11 is a district that I have been pushing for, though many have thought it is too much of a long shot. Well, it looks like it might not be such a longshot! It may well be one of the top pick up chances. Democrat Jim Gennaro's campaign reports some excellent numbers.

First, the latest figures from the state Board of Elections show that in the SD-11 district 85,860 registered Democrats to 32,669 registered Republicans. Come on folks. THAT should make this winnable right there!

Second, it looks like Gennaro is raising money quite effectively. Here's the latest press release from the Gennaro campaign:

Gennaro Raises Well Over Half-Million Dollars,
Has Over $400k On Hand

...Councilman Gennaro, who is preparing a challenge to Senate District 11's Republican incumbent Frank Padavan in Eastern Queens, has raised a total of $615,497.35, including $233,479.02 since the last such scheduled filing in January. The Gennaro for New York committee has a total of $406,965.01 cash on hand.

The Daily News reports that Joe Bruno said he's stepping down because he doesn't want the FBI probe to be an issue in this fall's elections.

Of course he claims that he's done nothing wrong. But if he were truly concerned the the FBI probe itself was a problem, why didn't he step down two years ago? They were investigating him then, but he didn't step down. Furthermore, regardless of whether he's still the majority leader, if the FBI nails him it will be an election issue.

It seems clear to me that the FBI has something on him, or is at least close to a major announcement (read: indictment?). There are two possible reasons for Bruno's action -- either he knows he's toast and wants to limit the damage, or he has made a deal so that the FBI won't do anything public until after the election. Since there are reports that Bruno tried to make a deal with the FBI before stepping down, the latter possibility seems to be highly probable.

Capitol News is reporting that Tom Golisano is forming a 527 committee to support certain Democratic state Senate candidates.

Among those being supported are: Kathy Konst, who is challening Dale Volker (assuming she gets her new website up); Joe Mesi, who is challenging Mary Lou Rath in Erie; and Rick Dollinger, who is challengin Joe Robach in Monroe. He may also support Dan Squadron against Martin Connor and another primary challenge in Buffalo.

Just when you thought things were as crazy as they could get...

Jimmy Dahroug picks up two good endorsements in his bid to turn the State Senate blue. Remember, Jimmy was one of two Democrats who came closest to picking up a State Senate seat in 2006 and has a better shot this year thanks to a better organized campaign and an earlier start. From Jimmy Dahroug's campaign:

Legislator Ricardo Montano, Islip Dem Chair Ivan Young Endorse Dahroug

Today Dahroug for Senate campaign received two major endorsements. Suffolk County Legislator Ricardo Montano, (9th L.D.) representing Brentwood, Central Islip and Islandia, and Islip Town Democratic Chairman Ivan Young officially endorsed Jimmy Dahroug's campaign for New York State Senate (S.D. 3).

While Legislator Montano moved to suspend his bid for the State Senate, he has decided to put his full support behind Jimmy Dahroug. In a letter to Democratic Party Committee Members, Montano stated, "I believe that with hard work and the right candidate we Democrats will win the 3rd Senate District and the State Senate this November. That is why I am endorsing Jimmy Dahroug for State Senate.

Back in January 2006 I had as my goals:

1.) defeating the Bush/Gingrich/McCain agenda nationally

2.) defeating the Pataki, Bruno and Silver Albany constipation

3.) defeating the local Brooklyn Vito Lopez machine.

Still working on #3 through several channels. And it remains to be seen whether indictments or ill health or Brooklyn fatigue with corruption bring down Vito Lopez. For my part I prefer indictments to ill health. But Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn DA, has pushed that aside and has focused on other, also worthy efforts. So we wait to see who will replace Lopez in time.

Goal #1 began to happen in 2006 with a massive take over of the House and an evening up of the Senate. And we have a damned good shot at continuing this in 2008 with MORE House seats, a REAL takeover of the Senate and a White House win by Obama.

From a press release from Jimmy Dahroug:

"Brian Foley's bid for the State Senate is not helpful to the voters in Brookhaven who supported him for supervisor. Brookhaven is in a state of crisis and our supervisor should not abandon us for another office only months into his term."
-Barry McCoy
Democratic State Committeeman
Brookhaven District Leader, Council 1

"As a Democratic foot soldier in Brookhaven, I urge Brian Foley to stay in Brookhaven and finish the job he started. We can win back the council majority and continue the fight for good government -- but only if Brian stays completely focused on his job in Brookhaven. We need him now more than ever."
-Jerry Gasowski,
Brookhaven Democratic Committee Member

"I supported Brian Foley in his bid to become Brookhaven Supervisor and I believe he should stay right here and finish the job he started."
-William Maddock
Brookhaven Democratic Committee Member

The statements above are from Democratic Committee members who believe Supervisor Brian Foley should end his last-minute bid for the state Senate and focus on the urgent needs of Brookhaven Town.

I am on the host committee for a fundraiser for Jimmy Dahroug and I hope you can all attend, spread the word, and/or contribute. Jimmy's fundraisers are pretty damned good and this one includes special guest Jim Dean, brother of Howard Dean and head of Democracy for America.

From the Jimmy Dahroug Campaign:

Wed., May. 14, 2008
Manhattan Cocktail Reception
Campaign Co-Chair Dr. Bonnie Maslin and her Husband, Dr. Yehuda Nir are hosting a cocktail reception for our reform campaign. Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean will be the Guest speaker
Location: 1050 Park Avenue, at the corner of East 87th Street
When: 6:00 PM
Ends: 9:00 PM

Wherever you live in New York State, the upcoming election in my district will affect you, me, our friends, and our families for generations to come.

Today, we are only two seats away from gaining a Democratic majority in the New York State Senate. This will end the stagnation caused by four decades of Republican domination including the Republican gerrymandering which has prevented us from turning more of New York's congressional seats blue.

Ken Diamondstone has announced that he will not run against Marty Connor this year.

In his press release, Diamondstone said, "I'm not going to engage in a three-way primary that divides the progressive vote. The needs of my fellow constituents are simply too important. Instead, I will be seeking other opportunities to work on behalf of progressive reform for the benefit of all New Yorkers."