Aubertine in the eye of political hurricane (ladder match?)

If the New York state legislature were World Wrestling Entertainment, the current deadlock in the Senate would be Wrestlemania, and today’s battle could very well be the ladder match. That’s where a suitcase dangles from the ceiling high above the ring, and half a dozen wrestlers fight to lug a ladder to the center of the ring, climb to the top (while other wrestlers try to pull him back down), and grab hold of the suitcase.

ANNOUNCER: Ouch! Monserrate bodyslams Smith! Thwack! Espada takes out Monserrate and Malcolm Smith with a ladder – simultaneously! Look! Silver has Skelos in a headlock! But wait! Who’s this???!!! Darrel Aubertine??!! The little farmer from Cape Vincent!! He’s climbing the ladder!! He’s reaching up…

[TV explodes]

It’s hard to say what’s happening in Albany right now. But all eyes are on the North Country’s Darrel Aubertine. From Liz Benjamin’s blog…

The speculation at the moment centers on Aubertine, who is not only closer from an ideological standpoint to the Republicans, but also is the first Democrat to represent his GOP-dominated district (the 48th SD) since 1935.

It’s no secret that Aubertine has been on the Senate Republicans’ pre-coup hit list as they prepared to mount a last-ditch effort to take back the majority in 2010.

It’s also no secret that the upstate Democratic dairy farmer has been torn between sticking with his colleagues in Albany and taking what might be a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the soon-to-open House seat that will be vacated by Rep. John McHugh.

Meanwhile, the Senate bells are still ringing.

Aubertine spokesman Drew Mangione dismissed the idea that Aubertine would switch sides, at least for Espada. At least right now. Stay tuned.