When I first came to the North Country ten years ago, Democrats simply couldn’t field A-list candidates for big races. <\/p>\n
Their candidates were zealous and well-intentioned, but rarely posed much of a threat. The political season often began and ended with the Republican primary.<\/p>\n
The Big Republican Wall began to crack with Hillary Clinton’s strong showing in the region in the 2000 Senate race.<\/p>\n
Then came Darrel Aubertine, who claimed a victory in the River District Assembly seat in 2002. <\/p>\n
A couple of years later, Kirsten Gillibrand shocked the Upstate political culture with her upset win over Republican John Sweeney.<\/p>\n
Aubertine managed to claim and hold a state Senate seat in 2008, while Gillibrand won re-election handily.<\/p>\n
Now, Democrats seem to have found their institutional legs, developing a real bench.<\/p>\n
They have recruited Scott Murphy, a young businessman from Glens Falls, with an attractive family and authentic North Country ties.<\/p>\n
(Gillibrand and Clinton were both vulnerable to the “carpetbagger” label.)<\/p>\n
Murphy looks like a natural on the stump and he’s running in a season when Democrats still enjoy a cultural advantage.<\/p>\n
I think this is still Jim Tedisco’s race to lose — he’s a veteran campaigner with an established war chest in a district with a 70,000 voter GOP advantage.<\/p>\n
But it’s worth noting that this time it was the Republicans who went outside the district for their candidate, while Democrats found their talent right here at home.<\/p>\n
Republican National GOP chairman Michael Steele predicted that this would be a “battle royale.” <\/p>\n
I think he’s right. The Democrats have positioned themselves to make this a real fight.<\/p>\n
Not so many years ago, that would have been unthinkable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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