Special Forces: McHugh To Lead Army
By the time '10 rolls around, NY may be left with just two House GOPers, thanks in part to Pres. Obama. According to the New York Times, Obama will nominate Rep. John McHugh (R-23) to be Sec. of the Army, forcing another special election in NY and creating another pickup opportunity in the Northeast for Dems.
Several GOPers hold state Senate seats in this sprawling north NY CD -- including state Sen. Betty Little (R), who was interested in running in the NY-20 special -- so there is a rather deep bench of potential candidates to hold the seat for Republicans. But GOPers were quick to point out that this will be no gimmie. Obama won the CD, 52-47%, and George W. Bush eked out two small victories in '04 and '00. Adding to GOP fears -- the CD saw a Dem state Senate pickup in '08.
McHugh has been the subject of retirement rumors for several cycles, so his departure is no surprise. Still, a competitive race here -- along with the party's NY-20 special loss and Sen. Arlen Specter's (D) defection -- will continue to add to the storyline that the GOP is losing its last remaining pockets of strength in the Northeast.
(TIM SAHD)