SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

THE FIGHT FOR NEW YORK – OVERNIGHT:  A critical battleground that will affect who runs the Democratic Party.  From the New York Post:  Gov. Kathy Hochul would handily win a five-way hypothetical Democratic primary for governor that includes her disgraced predecessor Andrew Cuomo, state Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a new poll released Tuesday.  Hochul would lead former three-term Gov. Cuomo who resigned in a sexual harassment scandal in August — 31 percent to 17 percent in the Siena College survey of 419 registered Dems.  Cuomo left Albany under the threat of impeachment after an investigative report by AG James’ office concluded he sexually harassed or mistreated multiple women.  James collected just 14 percent in the five way contest.  Williams followed with seven percent support and de Blasio was in the back of the pack with 6 percent.  With Cuomo excluded from the mix, Hochul gets 39 percent of the vote of registered Democratic voters. James 20 percent, de Blasio 10 percent, and Williams eight percent.  In a head-to-head match-up, Hochul leads James with 47 percent backing to 31 percent with the rest undecided.  Public Advocate Jumaane Williams filed to form an exploratory committee to run for governor.  Why is this important?  The hard left  may well make its most dramatic stand in New York, historically a powerful Democratic stronghold and the home of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, leader of the militant left in the House of Representatives.  Next year, New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer is up for re-election.  He is the majority leader of the U. S. Senate, the most powerful senator, with the kind of seniority that gives New York extra influence.  The political gossips here suggest that Ocasio-Cortez may challenge Schumer in a primary, setting up the kind of clash that can fatally split the Democratic Party.  Having a strong, moderate Democratic governor in office is key to preventing the insane ones from moving forward.  True, Hochul has done some things recently to pacify the nuts, but she is at base a member of the moderate majority in her party.  We are going to see, here in New York, serious political bloodshed.

October 19, 2021