NY-20: Don't Be Throwing In The Towel Just Yet
Just as a growing number of NY GOPers appeared to be throwing in the towel on Assemb. Jim Tedisco's (R) chances in NY-20, a judge has given him a bit of hope.
This afternoon, PolitickerNY reports Judge James Brands determined that objections to absentee ballots based on residency will be decided on a case-by-case basis. This buys more time for Tedisco's camp, as such a review could be slow going. He's also likely to benefit from the ruling, as he has objected to the lion's share of the 1.5K challenged ballots. His camp had argued to exclude any ballot that didn't list a primary residence in the CD.
Businessman Scott Murphy (D) enjoys a 273-vote lead, according to the NY Board of Elections. Meanwhile, of those 1.5K challenged voter ballots, 726 are Dem ballots, 545 are GOP, and 251 are indie, according to an analysis provided by the Murphy camp. In order to reverse Murphy's lead, Tedisco needs most of those Dem ballots to be rejected by the judge, so it's still an uphill battle for Tedisco.
Before the judge's decision, though, the C.W. among NY GOPers appeared to be that Tedisco was finished. Ex-NRCC Chair Tom Reynolds (R-NY) told Politico that for Dems, "bragging rights are what they are and they get momentum for winning a very tough seat for them." He's the second ex-chair of the cmte to speak out on the race. Last week, ex-NRCC Chair Tom Davis (R-NY) told the Washington Times, "We lost the special election in New York. It's gone."
And state Sen. Betty Little (R), who was under consideration by GOPers for the special election nod before it was given to Tedisco, told PolitickerNY she doesn't think he should drag it on much longer.
Little: "I think he ought to do a good analysis of where he stands and what the possibilities of the outcome are. ...You can't drag this one out as long as you can drag out a November election, you have to look to constituents not being represented at this point."
Both camps will meet 4/22 to count 251 ballots that were rejected because of how the ballot was marked. Brands will decide when to count the rest of the ballots at a 4/27 court appearance.
(TIM SAHD)
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