Aubertine-Ritchie closing arguments in state Senate 48

(NOTE: This post includes a correction.  The Watertown Daily Times endorsed Ritchie, not Aubertine.)

This race could decide the balance of power in New York’s Senate.  A poll released over the weekend finds that Republican challenger Patty Ritchie holding a 4-point lead.

Ritchie is running strongest in St. Lawrence County, according to the Siena Research Institute:

In the largest county in the district, Oswego, Ritchie’s lead is down to five points (from 12 points).  She continues to lead by 19 points in St. Lawrence (the smallest county in the district).  And Aubertine has seen his lead in Jefferson County fall from 19 points to six points.

Ritchie picked up an endorsement from Peter FitzRandolph in Canton, a Democratic legislator in St. Lawrence County, who said the Senate needs a change:

I voted for Darrel Aubertine five times during his political career. Not this time. It’s time for a change. We need someone from St. Lawrence County who will fight for us in Albany and who is not part of the “business as usual” attitude. Patty Ritchie is the person for the job.

Ritchie also drew a nod from the Syracuse Post-Standard:

Aubertine has done little to distinguish himself as an independent thinker and leader. He did not respond to numerous invitations to meet with the editorial board to expound on his record.

The Watertown Daily Times went for Ritchie as well, after taking Aubertine to task for the state Senate Democratic majority’s shortcomings:

It has been a struggle with a Senate and state government that have a definite downstate orientation. New York has been better served with Republicans in control of the Senate.

Election of Patricia A. Ritchie, the Republican candidate for the 48th District, can help restore that arrangement by moving the chamber a seat closer to GOP control. Mrs. Ritchie has been an energetic campaigner who has demonstrated her work ethic as St. Lawrence County clerk and found creative solutions to help finance her office.

This one will be incredibly close.  Aubertine should have a strong Get Out The Vote ground game; Ritchie will draw strength from the Republican wave sweeping the country.

Tags: election10