The coup was successful, County has fallen. The Rainbow Rebels have decimated the Bronx County organization in a clean sweep with the election of Liz Taylor as Civil Court Judge as their crowning achievement. The move has fractured and in essence destroyed the County machine which has solidly run the borough for decades. (More @ www.bxnews.net)

If I was writing for a newspaper this week, I'd probably be sticking this in there -- but in any case: Barack Obama has spent the last few days calling friends, select elected officials, and likely major donors to tell them he's running for president, according to a Democratic source.

He's also begun an Internet advertising campaign to build interest in his candidacy -- another sign that, at this point, his deliberation isn't much more than a pose. Looks like it'll be a fun year.

Who could be the next mayor of New York City?  It is not too early for the question, since it takes time for a candidate to think about the option, to get their affairs in order and to get a campaign into shape.  Political consultants are thinking about who to pitch and what the rationale is for the campaigns.  Names of citywide and borough elected officials are mentioned, as are candidates who ran before, but it could be someone we have not yet heard about. 

Manhattan Borough Presidents run for mayor a lot and often win, so there is Scott Stringer.  Bill Thompson is the City Comptroller and was mentioned last time as a likely candidate, but some feel he is not interested.  Betsy Gotbaum is the Public Advocate, the office Mark Green ran from in his bid to be mayor, but she has not acted like a potential candidate.  The Bronx Borough President’s office gave us the last Democratic candidate and Adolfo Carrion is looking like a candidate.  A strong finisher in 2001, Ferrer became the Democratic nominee in 2005, so one would have to consider Anthony Weiner to be a strong contender.  This could be the Democratic list of Democratic contenders in the primary.  Others may jump in and some may take a pass.