Kevin Powell To Withdraw From 10th Congressional Race

A development that is sure to raise more interest in the 10th Congressional race/ Brooklyn, is about to unfold. Kevin Powell, the young hip-hop guru, is about to withdraw from the race, leaving three candidates standing at this point. Those still entered are: Ed Towns (incumbent), Assemblyman Roger (The Dodger) Greene and Councilmember Charles Barron. Word on the street is that Roger’s candidacy is also shaky, because of his misdemeanor guilty plea and subsequent conviction.

Powell, whose entrance was met with controversy, hit the wall rather early, when his own writings were used to attack him. He is an admitted ex-woman-beater, and there were also stories of his wild party-hearty days of wine, women and song. Insiders are saying that this was no way to be introduced to the voters, and likened it to the introduction that Geoffrey Davis (the brother of deceased NYC Councilmember James Davis) received, when he was substituted as a candidate after his brother’s death. It can be recalled that Geoffrey’s baby-mamas dramas, problems with child-support payments, drug use, and prostitution solicitation, were all highlighted in the media right out of the box. He never recovered, and lost on the Democratic line to Tish James (WFP). It is the only time that the Working Families Party has won an election in New York City’s history.

Word on the street is (also) that Towns will cream Barron amongst white voters (so tell me something new). In a recent interview, Barron stated that he expects to pick up some serious endorsements soon. He is looking to win some CUNY organizations over to his side; remember he is the Chairman of the Higher Education Committee of the New York City Council, which oversees CUNY. Barron also picked up some heavy hip-hop endorsees lately, including the popular “Dead Prez”.

Powell’s withdrawal from the race is an opening for Barron to pick up some votes.

LATEST ODDS.

ED TOWNS 1-1

CHARLES BARRON 3-1

ROGER GREENE 25-1

 

STAY TUNED-IN!



Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 4:46pm.
Hey "ROCKY", I was about to send out the FBI looking for you.
Submitted by Gate (not verified) on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 6:08pm.
This impacts the race vitually not at all; I hear both of Kevin's supporters are voting for Roger.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 9:42am.

Good to have you back ROCK!!!

Question:

If Roger Green drops out...will he go back to the Assembly Race?  And if he did go back, what are your thoughts on the 57th if Green, Batson, Hamilton (Is she still running?) and Jefferies are vying for the 57th position?


Submitted by Gate (not verified) on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 7:00pm.
9:42: If Green hasn't already started circulating petitions, it'd be pretty difficult to start now and qualify for the ballot. However, if Freddie files and qualifies, and the declines to run, her Committee on Vacancies can meet and substitute Green if they choose to do so. Frankly, though, if I were Roger, I'd rather end my career making a quixotic run for Congress than facing a possible third place in seeking renomination to my own Assembly seat.    
Submitted by ROCK (not verified) on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 8:57pm.
Roger Greene will probably win his seat if  he were to run for re-election in this crowd. However, he is very vulnerable to a good candidate in a one on one race. No matter what his suporters say, he is (and will remain) "damaged goods".
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/01/2006 - 6:48pm.
Rock: I have to say, I'm disappointed that you'd say that roger could win re-election. You usually are better with your political opinions than this. Incumbency will definitely play a part, no question, but given all the situations going on in the 57th, there's no way he can win. Batson has the anti-arena/and some brownstone vote and jeffries has the party, unions, wfp and much of the vertical houses (marilyn mosley and such who were roger's base). Freddie does have some institutional support that, if she were to drop, one would assume would go to roger, but as you said, roger is damaged goods so those voters will probably gravitate to jeffries. It is already widely speculated that roger ran for congress to avoid a primary with jeffries who had already ran against him twice (pre-conviction) and garnered almost 40% of the vote both times. I don't see roger dropping his congressional run if powell or freddie drops. Better to lose while running for higher office than for your own seat.
Submitted by ROCK (not verified) on Sat, 07/01/2006 - 7:38pm.
Well, I  have been wrong before, but let me tell you as someone who has seen Roger comeback from the dead many times over the years, he can win re-election. Go check the history behind this guys races and you will see why I say this. 
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/01/2006 - 8:43pm.
Rock: yes roger has comeback before, but this time is different for a couple of reasons. First there has been a shift in the character of the district. More younger voters have moved in to the 57th. Roger saw this shift happening before his last race, which is why he knocked jeffries out of the district (by one block no less) and took in more of the verticle housing (in effect bringing in more of the black vote). Secondly, the national trend is highlighting how, in a general sense, that the voting public wants more progressive elected officials (obama, booker). Roger may try to reinvent himself again, but 2006 progressive he is not. And this isn't a slight on him; its just a fact. He is not this generation's "progressive." Finally, roger has never had competition. Other than jeffries since 2000, roger has not had any real competition. His problems in the past - like when he did not collect enough signatures to get on the democratic ballot and he created the "children's and families" line - is due to lethargy and plain, old laziness.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/05/2006 - 2:35pm.
Today I read in the New York Times, this very story. I told one of my co-workers that I read it last week on Room8. It took them a week to get this story. You are real good Rock.

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