Chris Gibson's Race and Some Very Good News from Upstate New York
On a podcast way back when, as you may recall, our guest was Col. Chris Gibson, who, after three tours in Iraq, had retired from the U.S. Army to move back to his hometown, Old Kinderhook, to run for Congress in the 20th district of New York. Polling in this sprawling, largely rural district has been sporadic, but every indication for several months has been that Chris was badly trailing his opponent, the Democratic incumbent Scott Murphy.
I found this personally, frustrating, I'll admit: I grew up near that district, and when Chris was here at the Hoover Institution for a year I got to know him, and to get to know Chris Gibson is to admire him enormously. The problem? The usual problem in politics: Money. Whereas Chris's opponent is a wealthy businessman, Chris has spent his life leading soldiers and dodging gunfire, which is a good way to become a hero but a bad way to learn how to ask rich guys down in Manhattan to contribute to your campaign.
But you know what? Things have begun looking up. Sometime over the last couple of days the Cook Political Report moved Chris's race from "leans Democrat" to "tossup." And now Dick Morris has this:
Murphy v. Gibson: Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy hopes to win re-election by attacking his Republican challenger Chris Gibson for wanting to repeal ObamaCare. He'd better try something else. A recent poll by the National Republican Congressional Committee has him two points behind Gibson. The 20th district runs north from Hudson, skirts Albany and continues up to Glens Falls.
Why the change? Once again, Dick Morris:
New York state's congressional dele gation could see huge changes in the midterm elections. A virtual purge of Democrats is quite possible, with as many as 11 seats changing hands. New York is traditionally a late-deciding state because of the high cost of media here and the late primaries, so these races are coming into focus only now.
If you're a New Yorker--come to think of it, even if you're not--take a look at Chris, then consider clicking through to his website to see what you can do to help a good man in the final days of his race.
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Jun '10
Re: Chris Gibson's Race and Some Very Good News from Upstate New York
Go Chris! Has anyone given thought to the fact that a lot of former soldiers may soon be entering Congress (Gibson, Allen West, Barney Frank's opponent, and others) and the positive implications that may have for assuring that our defense budget remains adequate?
[I'm all for accountability in the defense budget, but I fear what will happen if we engage in slash and burn cuts to the point the world decides we are no longer the world's preeminent military power].
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 10:21amMay '10
Re: Chris Gibson's Race and Some Very Good News from Upstate New York
Sounds like a wonderful candidate, Peter. Just sent a small donation to help out.
Am also rooting for Colonel Mike Prendergast, a south Tampa candidate who's running against Kathy Castor, though the odds are pretty long that he can win. Here's his bio (second one down on the page) http://www.ccchs.org/s/333/clearwater.aspx?sid=333&gid=1&pgid=1201 Saw him speak before he became a candidate and he was as impressive as his biography suggests. It is inspiring that candidates of this caliber are stepping up to the plate at a time when we really need them.
Edited on Oct 24, 2010 at 5:12pm