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Biden Tells Maloney To Not Challenge Gillibrand In New York Senate Primary
The Hill reports that Vice President Biden spoke this week to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), urging her to not run in the Democratic primary for Senate against appointed incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand.
Maloney has been widely reported to be preparing to enter the race soon.
President Obama previously made a phone call three weeks ago to Rep. Steve Israel, who had also been gearing up to run, and told him not to do it. Afterwards, Israel pulled his hat out of the ring. With Obama overseas this week, Biden appears to have picked up the slack.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
I am not sure I like the idea of asking or forcing people not run in the primary by Biden or Obama. just seems to be somewhat heavy handed or not in the party's best interest.
June 4, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Obama should ought to know better than anybody that contested primaries can actually strengthen the winner as a general election candidate.
June 4, 2009 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the opinion of New York Democrats? I don't mean just elected officials, but how about the people man the phone banks?
June 4, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The brief on Gillibrand is that she's to the right of the Obama administration. Maybe they're doing this to rack up chits with her to call in later to get bills passed?
June 4, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Gillibrand's been a problem for Obama and his agenda since she traded her conservative house district for a rather larger and, on average, more liberal constituiency, I haven't heard about it.
Doesn't mean it might not be true, but Democratic Senators who are aren't voting rightously tend to get pointed out pretty vigorously, hereabouts. So if she's still acting bluedoggy, some of you New Yorker's need to chime in.
June 4, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why would she be a problem for Obama? He's not exactly progressive.
June 4, 2009 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aside from whether it's good or bad (and I think it happens all the time), what leverage does a Biden have? Anybody ever been close enough to know? Are those cajoled promised something? Threatened with something? Or neither and they just listen to what the senior pol who knows better says?
I'm serious, any insights?
June 4, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Told?" I'd like to think Joe and Obama conformed to the niceties to the extent of phrasing it as a polite request rather than an order. You know, a polite request that came directly from the President of the United States and the Vice President on his behalf. But still, just a polite request.
June 4, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
It could be as simple as that. It's hard for me to imagine going through all the motions of putting together a campaign, making all the life choices that such involves, only to have Amtrak Joe who's not from my state cruise up one morning (no, ring up, as I see!) and ask me to chill out. But maybe I'm hot-headed and not cut out for statewide office (or any other office perhaps!). Cheers, mate.
June 4, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean kind of like the time Dick Cheney called up Pawlenty and told him the Senate seat was for Norm?
Nothing changes.
June 4, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a NY Dem and a big fan of Obama. Really dislike the no-primary pressure here. First, Obama knows all about challenging a New York Senator and should be game (though I'm sure there's some promise he made Hillary/Schumer). Second, she's the appointment of an unelected governor. Let the NY Dems decide who we want to represent us. We have a deep pool of candidates -- let them run.
I think Obama/Biden can endorse Gillibrand -- fine. But strong-arming people out is not cool.
June 4, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink