All of the points above would be dandy if it weren't for the fact that there is a choice in the Democratic Primary to unseat Fossella.  Councilman Dominic Recchia currently represents the Brooklyn segment in the City Council and has considerable name recognition there. He has also raised more money than Harrison...alot more. More than Fossella even.

Also, the above post isn't entirely accurate. Harrison lost last time 43-57%.  That's not a 7% loss, that's a 14% loss, and that was in 2006 with a stong, at the time, Eliot Spitzer carrying the top of the ticket. In 2004, Fossella beat Barbaro (D) 40-60%. This shows that any Democrat running against Fossella is going to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 40% of the vote. Honestly, I'm torn in my decision - primarily because I don't know much about either candidate. Some questions I've come across in my own soul searching are noticably missing from your posting. For instance, and I'm playing devil's advocate here, why not support the better funded candidate over the one who has already proven incapable of ousting him? I understand the inherent loyalty in the good democrat that continues to fight the good fight, but should warm feelings of a previous valiant effort get in the way of what can seriously be a tidal shift in an area that we need one. And what about legislative experience?

As I said, I'm still making up my mind and I'm traditionally a sympathizer to the insurgent, but every time I see one of these blog postings that completely leaves out or even insults Recchia on what further research turns up to be false, I find myself giving him more serious consideration.

Domenic represents only a small portion of the Brooklyn part of the 13th congressional district.

Domenic did not connect with members of the political Clubs in the district. The Club I belong to, The Staten Island Democratic Association SIDEMS.org,  gave Steve Harrison our endorsement with about 87% of the vote.

We found Domenic to be unprepared and his position on some of the issues, like Iraq, we not in line with the Democratic Party's positions.

For example Domenic believes we should get out of Iraq when the Iraqis are ready to stand up and he does not oppose permanet bases in Iraq. These are Republican positions.

and give it up Recchiaites. You're fuckin toast.

Cusick runs, you'll get 35% in the primary between the two of you.

The reason that Mr. Recchia may have some of those Reuplican values is that back in, I think it was around  1991 or so, when there was an an Assembly race in his district, he was going to run as the Republican candidate, but backed down after those powers that be ( party bosses) said his political career wouldbe over if he lost. He then switched to supporting the Democratic candidate, afterall. Mr. Recchia is just a political opportunist & those in his district know that very well. Mr. Harrison is much smarter & knows more of the issues that confront us today than Mr. Dum Recchia.

It was an even year, not an odd one, and the regulars had circumvented the democratic process by getting the incumbent Assemblyman nominated for a judgship, and then substituting their choice without consulting the voters, who were being deprived of any choice in picking the nominee. What a sleezy manuver!

The Republicans knew they couldn't win, and decided to at least offer the voters the chance to have a competitive election. They offered Recchia their line, full knowing that, if he won, he would take his seat as a Democrat.

Not to put too fine a point on the matter, but this is not an uncommon practice in special elections. Oliver Koppell and Melinda Katz both won their first elections off the Democratic line. Bob Garcia on his first election to Congress on the Republican line, with near unanamous progessive and reform support. They all then took their seats as Democrats.

In a case where the voters don't get to choose the nominees, different rules apply. It would be absurd to compare this sort of process to Steve Harrison's endorsement of a Republican-Conservative-Right to Life Challenger to an incumbent State Senate Democrat in service to the interests of Joe Bruno, together with his prior support of Vito Fossella. Especially absurd, since Recchia didn't even take their line.

Harrison supporters are absolutely shameless, defending with lame excuses their candidate's closeted and shameful past as a reactionary, while spreading misleading slanders about Recchia.    

....I'm a Democrat.

The Harrison folks here are the proof of our unfortunate pudding. These guys don't understand that getting to second base doesnt necessarily mean that you hit a double.

Harrison's 14 point loss in the last election on the same day that Eliot Spitzer was leadng the ticket with over 60% was actually a poor performance. Any objective political observer recognizes that. The DCCC which has no local agenda to grind here whatsoever other than to pick up a Dem seat by ousting a Repbulican incumbent obviously knows that. That's why they have politely shunned Harrison.

Also, fund raising, the mother's milk of politics speaks volumes. Harrison who claims to have been running non-stop for two years since this ignominious defeat, hasn't been able to raise enough to run for a contested Assembly seat yet. It appears that Recchia has raised almost as much as Harrison and Fosella coombined, which is mighty  impressive since the DCCC hasn't yet weighed in with fund raising help.

The name recognition argument---which btw comes with no statistical basis for us to evaluate---is also tissue thin. I am sure that Fossella has the best name recognition of the three but I doubt that thismeans he will win. And a huge fund raising advantage surely evaporates that.

Recchia is a dogged campaigner having gotten elected an re-elected ina council district where Italians are a minority, he has crossed ethnic lines. Despite the blogging of the Harrison blogoshpere and the Recchia hating few, he enjoys immense popularity with his constituents and a rep as someone who gets things done for people. Nope, he is not the single most elquent speaker in the world, but he cdomes across as a sincere likeable guy....and in contrast to the new Fossella, a real family guy. And he gets his point across well enough in front of a room.

His voting record on the council will stnad up to scrutiny better than Harrison's record of contributing to conservative and REpublican cmpaigns.

I know objectivity has little to do with blogging. But any objective observer who wishes to see this seat change hands to the Democrats knows that Recchia is the better/best choice.

Just ask the Reepublicans who they are most afraid of.

I think the DCCC should really vet Mr. Recchia a little closer. Just as  Vito has had a "double life" it is also rumored that Mr. Recchia also has a eye for the ladies. When he was on the  local Community Board, he has been heard to be quite a ladies man. Don't forget Mr. Recchia on his Conflict of Interest Forms he handed in,( ie. the Slush Fund Scandal) he put in his own handwriting " to the best of my knowledge" & then signed off. This to me shows his lack of Ethicsand is hiding something.My advice to the DCCC be careful for what you wish for, it might bite you back in the ass.

57-43. Close?

That's like saying Hillary lost NC in a squeaker.  

The person who anonymously blogged that Recchia is a "ladies man" is a revolting human being. If you have facts, present them. Otherwise don't post rumors and total bullshit. Also, to add the phrase "to the best of my knowledge" is something that most lawyers would insist on doing before affirming something. And it not indicative of something to hide, just a brain.

Shame on you!

The person who anonymously blogged that Recchia is a "ladies man" is a revolting human being. If you have facts, present them. Otherwise don't post rumors and total bullshit. Also, to add the phrase "to the best of my knowledge" is something that most lawyers would insist on doing before affirming something. And it not indicative of something to hide, just a brain.--------------you are right