20th district race enters bruising month-long sprint

Scott Murphy, the Democrat from Glens Falls, and Jim Tedisco, the Republican from Schenectady, are officially sprinting now, with both sides pulling out all stops.

Here’s a cheat sheet for where things stand now.

SCOTT MURPHY

Murphy is getting huge support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which went up with a radio spot attacking Tedisco.

The DCCC is also barraging reporters with emails slamming Tedisco for failing to “take a stand” on the Obama stimulus plan.

Two editorial pages — in Schenectady and Albany — have criticized Tedisco for “stonewalling” on the issue.

Murphy has also picked up some endorsements: Glens Falls Mayor Jack Diamond, New York’s Independence Party, and the AFL-CIO are all pushing for the Democrat.

“Once a candidate is endorsed by the New York State AFL-CIO,” wrote union leaders in a prepared statement, “the state federation immediately begins to coordinate an aggressive grassroots field operation on behalf of the candidate. The campaign will include member-to-member initiatives, mailings, phone bank operations, worksite flyers and door-to-door visits to union households on behalf of the candidate.“

An independent review by CBS Channel 6 found that Murphy was fairly accurate in his claim that his business investments had helped create 1,000 jobs, though most of the jobs were outside the 20th district.

JIM TEDISCO

Tedisco currently holds a 12-point lead, according to last week’s Siena College poll. That’s a little tighter than an earlier GOP-sponsored poll, but still a solid lead.

In an interview with NCPR, Tedisco pointed out that his lead with independent voters was around 14 points. It’ll be hard for Murphy to win this Republican-heavy district without capturing those unafilliated voters out there.

Tedisco is also pushing back hard against Murphy’s DCCC radio spot, calling it “misleading” and “desperate.”

On the other hand, Tedisco himself is airing an attack ad that describes Murphy as “just another Wall Street millionaire, hiding a past that’s threatening our future.”

That same report by CBS found that Tedisco “didn’t really have a lot to do” with a project that he’s taken credit for that created 3,000 jobs.

Tedisco drew some big-gun support today from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani today. They campaigned together in Dutchess County.

The Associated Press ran a story that appeared across the district pointing out that Tedisco doesn’t live inside the 20th district.

“I don’t think that’s a valid reason to not pick the best person for the job,” Tedisco said when questioned about his residency.

UP NEXT:

AARP holds an event with both candidates tomorrow (Tuesday) in Saratoga Springs, the first “debate” that we’re aware of where the two will appear together.