Jefferson County businessman Matt Doheny may be the least known of three likely Republican candidates in NY 23, but his GOP-only soire last night at his Paddock Street home was evidence he is the choice of many party leaders.
Doheny has been busy behind the scenes and when we all read top NY GOP leaders were holding a meeting yesterday at the Black River Valley Club to ponder strategies in this part of the state.....well it seemed that Doheny, Doug Hoffman and Will Barclay would all stop by for the beauty contest.....
Hoffman didn't, as he is not a favorite of party insiders....Barclay came....and Doheny was absent leading observers to wonder...
Then word comes that while Will was on his way back to Pulaski, the GOP poobahs were all headed to a swanky, catered soire at Doheny's house.
Brilliant strategy to prove he has the muscle within the party to win a primaty.
Insiders say his fundraising reports due this week will show him to be a player.
What makes Doheny a question mark is name recognition. A recent poll showed the President of Mozambique has higher name recognition across the district.
Doheny has to start reversing that if he is to chase Barclay out of the race and overcome Hoffman's early lead resulting from his strong showing in last year's race that resulted in the election of Rep.Bill Owens.
This week Bill Owens is busy being a Congressman...visiting soldiers at Walter Reed....announcing grants to local governments and attending the State of the Union Address.....
But for Doheny, its Owens support of publicly run health care....cap and trade...and the Pelosi agenda that is their issue...
To see who is going places, I would keep an eye on FEC filings due soon. For better or worse money....big money....is what aspiring to public service is all about....Let's see who has it and who doesn't.
16 comments:
Clearly Doheny's strategy has been to get in good with the political insiders before branching out to the voters. Probably makes sense since without republican party support his campaign would be dead in the water, but I am eager for voters to start to meet this guy and weigh in. No one knows him.
Doheny will run for Congress, Ritchie will run for Senate, and Vaugh will run for Assembly.
The republican party has their eye on this guy. He came out of nowhere right when the party was needing a fresh face. He isn't perfect, but he has a lot of what they have been looking for. The question is whether the voters in NY23, who have a track record of not embracing the "new guy", will put him in the seat next year or not. If so, there could be big big things ahead, which would do nothing but help us here.
Everything that I hear is that all three will run and be the nominees
Quick, behind the scenes "House party" for operatives; dump $500,000 of own funds in kitty; raise hundreds of thousands from outside the district; and bingo a new Rep. in Congress, right?
My, my how times have changed - but not for the better, I'm afraid.
Dan you need to understand, you would if they were willing ,its the nature of the beast even I know that...
Dan, you have made that point so many times now. Please just put the whole money thing aside for a day or two at least and focus on the candidate's positions on the issues. You are not alone in thinking that campaign finance reform would be a good thing, but until the rules change, you have to play by them to win. And if someone wants to spend $500K to get his message out, who I am I (or you) to criticize him for it.
I can't imagine either Doheny or Barclay have raised much money yet since they haven't even announced they are running. Hoffman probably still has funds trickling in from his run last Fall, but even he hasn't announced yet. Doheny's website which was accepting donations last year (dohenyforcongress.com) isn't even active. Maybe I am wrong but I certainly haven't been approached by anyone for money yet (although I have received a bunch of calls to donate to other republicans who are running in races that have NOTHING to do with NY23, or NYS for that matter...three this week already, and it is only January! I am all about supporting the party and pushing the dems out of power, but really? You want me to donate to a politician I have never heard of who is running in a state I have never even visited, let alone lived in???) I am patiently waiting for the local guys to step up their fund raising efforts so I can feel like I have done my part to take the district back!
Anon: 3:51 -- I always focus on important issues ... but know this, big money, and lots of it, keep those like me out who don't have the tons of money for a number of reasons: can't raise it, or don’t have it ... to even get the critical issues out with any avenue.
* Mr. Doheny will sell his experience on Wall Street and knowledge of "finances" ... that should send up plenty if red flags...
But, what about our two Wars, detainee handling (torture), jobs, wild-ass fiscal policy/spending (that may or may not work), and foreign influence and control over our daily lives (#1 issue with that 5-4 new decision, too) ... where does he stand on those?
I'm willing to listen, but who will listen to me if I can't buy a seat on the stage?
Doheny's official individual contributions - click on the STATE or ZIP columns to see who and where from:
Note: not one from this district...: $286,000 and all outside money and apt to grow.
All politics is local right? BS
DAn become a big boy... your ideas are way out of the main stream of life you do not have a pulpit as your guy Obama, even he can't convince the American people after over 400 speaches in the first 365 days as he says he needs to try harder to get his message out." Letsa go Hugo"
Dan, if you were a fresh face with a message on target, people would find the cash to fund your campaign. That should have been your take after the Blue Mtn Lake interviews. If McCain can't get the campaign finance problem on the table, what's the point of beating that drum here? Voters have other things to think about (or NOT think about).
Where is Doheney on BFW? At least barclay has articulated a position and shown concern. His father is a huge opponent of BFW and is working to save our region from financial and enviormental despoilment.
I'm for Will....He lives here year-round and has a 200 year old family investment in the region
9:08 - Blue Mtn Lake? Oh I see, run and lose a race and then pack it in and never try again; just slink off and do what? Watch the same old crap from candidate who can’t scratch their ass with a hand full of fishhooks on key and critical issues? That sort of attention and involvement? That may be your view and personality, and approach, but it's not mine.
I may not have a "fresh face" as you say, but I damn sure have a face that can be trusted vis-à-vis a few of those now in office ... that is if you'd bother to look past your prejudices and narrow views of politics.
IMHO...
I don't happen to have a narrow view. I am not prejudiced if I can help it. I have interviewed and asked dozens of knowledgeable people whom to support. But you are obviously welcome to draw your own conclusions--the results are the results. It is what it is, and no more. You have a way of turning all feedback into personal character assassinations. So be it. You have convinced me not to consider you as a viable candidate in the future.
Dan, this isn't the first important fund raiser that took place on Paddock Street.
Lighten up, Dan. Isn't it time for a trip to the Sunshine State? All our educators seem to have time to make the trip. We all get tired of winter about this time of year.
Post a Comment