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Steve Harrison, New York's Invisible Democrat
One of the phenomena I find most puzzling in this election cycle is the invisibility of Democratic congressional candidate Steve Harrison.
Let's review.
By all indications, Democrats are set to sweep the elections in New York State this year. Up-ballot, both Spitzer and Clinton are out-polling all rivals by margins that compare favorably to those for support of hot and cold running water. The newest Q-Poll gives George Bush an approval/disapproval rating of 28/68 - and that's an improvement. We are on the cusp of an earthquake. So why have most people in this most political of cities never heard of Harrison?
Harrison is running in the thirteenth district, against republican incumbent Vito Fossella. Fossella is as much of an agenda poodle as you can be without crawling behind George Bush on a leash - though if pressed, he would probably not even refuse that, with a voting record in lockstep with his caucus a staggering 92% of the time. That's higher than the caucus average.
In addition, just to roll off the stats, he took ten grand from Tom DeLay, $62,700 from Big Oil, $45,000 from the pharmaceutical lobby, $1,500 from Halliburton, voted to cut student loans by $12,7 billion, voted for the energy bill, against drug re-importation from Canada, against the Endangered Species Act reform bill, the list just goes on and on and on.
In addition, Fossella has been in the news recently for good, old-fashioned republican sleaze. Luxury travel paid for with campaign funds (a big no-no), some funny business with government-funded campaign mailings (another really big no-no, to the tune of $160,000), lobbyist-funded skiing trips, and whatever other flotsam and jetsam accrue to Members who consistently vote against their constituents. He didn't even have the common decency to distance himself from Ann Coulter's remarks about the 9/11 widows, though his district lost quite a number of people in the attacks.
By rights, Fossella should be toast this year.
However, Harrison lags significantly in the money race, with $41,000 raised in Q2 to Fossella's $155,300 raised and $519,500 on hand. Being completely unknown is the main factor in that result, considering the many variables in Harrison's favor.
Another factor is likely the conventional wisdom that a Brooklynite can't win on the island, with Frank Barbaro's campaign serving as Exhibit A. In this case, however, the conventional wisdom is wrong. Harrison's socially moderate, economically Progressive and populist agenda is resonating on the island, helped in part by the fact that he has family ties there. He is not perceived as an outsider in the way Barbaro was - it's that simple. Ask his mom and dad - they live there.
New Yorkers have a pick-up opportunity on our doorstep. Instead of, or in addition to, sending love to Pennsylvania or wherever, let's literally put our own house in order. Take a closer look at Steve Harrison, right here, and if you can, show the man some love - click here.
Interesting
Harrison has been out constantly. He has run races (he is a serious runner), mingled on the 4th of July in multiple events, and will be at the (shudder) Frankie Valli concert on Coney Island. He is circulating a great deal.
I know conservative Dems who like him and I know, surprisingly, progressives who like him. His "Brooklyn" residence is mitigated in the eyes of Staten Islanders by the facts that his mother lives in SI and the SI Democrats hand picked him to run. So he seems to bridge the Boroughs.
Does he have the funds? No...because this is a forgotten race to Democrats. They tried hard for Barbero and failed, so many are scared to try again. But Ralph Perfetto, originally of IND fame, but a Bay Ridge big wig, is pushing hard and in all the fundraising I have personally done nationally, Harrison got the biggest donation. So the interest is there and whatever else you can say, Harrison has been out in the district mingling a great deal according to my connections on the ground.
True enough
Harrison is working his butt off, but he's getting zero coverage, either in the lamestream media or on the blogs. We also had him at the last NDM GM, the one where I was in Boston for the Madonna concert; it appears I missed a good show.
HARRISON CAMPAIGN
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY is what Harrison needs and P.R.also. He needs to get on the news shows and have his press conferences convered. If this blog does anything it needs to bring MONEY to the Harrison Campaign. This race is just as important as CD-11 and is winable but Steve needs the funds to do that. Believe me, I walked with this man during a meet and greet 4th of July weekend and he cares about people and about the district. At tomorrow night's Frankie Valli concert (don't shudder David, you'd be suprised at the crowd this concert attracts) he'll be out there shaking hands, listening to people and introducing himself. Golly, just think what he could do if he had MONEY.
Money indeed
Money wins elections at least most of the time. Proud to say that through this site at least $500 went to Harrison awhile back...peanuts perhaps, but it's something. That's the most I've raised for any individual this year. Of course Fossella has had Dick Cheney and Karl Rove coming by to help with fundraising. Can we expect Ann Coulter next?
Wouldn't it make some sense for David Yassky to use some of his huge war chest for helping a Democrat defeat a Republian in CD-13? Seems a real pity that so much money is being spent in a PRIMARY and so little to defeat a corrupt Republican.
Helping Harrison
Does anyone know who to contact at the campaign? I'm a bit old to hand out fliers but I'd like to get involved somehow. I think the strategy he's employing is not the right one but I don't know for sure since it gets no coverage. Basically, there needs to be a poll where he has higher numbers than Barbaro then maybe the DNC will do something money-wise. Maybe get Hillary down there with him in Brooklyn.
I do think the key is to get SI moderate Republicans to vote for him. Fossella will pull out the Pelosi card and we can't stop that, but Harrison seems to have the right background to pick up some disgruntled Republicans.
Contact
Contact his campaign at 718-836-0760
I know their focus right now is fundraising, getting Steve out there meeting people, and phone banking. I am sure they need help with all three.
CONTACTING HARRISON CAMPAIGN
Go to their Web Site and sign up for volunteer work there or call 718-836-0760 and ask for Tom.
Living in bay ridge I have
Living in bay ridge I have not seen anything about harrison. I see fossella signs in many storefronts and bumper stickers.
Contact the campaign...
Contact the campaign and ask why you haven't seen them. Better yet, find out how you can help in Bayridge. It is an uphill battle and they need all the help we can give.
We have only ourselves to blame...
If we'd spend less time trying to take out our own (like Lieberman in CT) then perhaps we'd have time to take out our opponents.
Probably unrelated
Normally I'd agree regarding infighting vs. fighing the real enemy...but I don't think in this case the CT Senate race has much connection with the attempts to unseat Fossella. Possibly one could argue that all the fuss and money being spent on CD-11, for example, would be better spent defeating the Republican in CD-13, and in that case yeah we are all to blame.