Suitably Flip

The Gray, Forgetful Lady

Today's New York Times has a story about yesterday's State Assembly special election, won by Democrat Micah Kellner over Republican Gregory Camp.

Mr. Camp, 45, had been endorsed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Republican leaders believed he could appeal to Democratic and independent voters because of his liberal views.
...
Virtually all of Manhattan’s Democratic officials — particularly those from the East Side — endorsed Mr. Kellner, including State Senator Liz Kruger [sic], Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing and City Council members Jessica S. Lappin and Daniel R. Garodnick. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Mr. Kellner on Monday.

It wasn't only Republican leaders who supported Camp, however.  With the exception of elected Democrats, most parties who took the time to evaluate the candidates' backgrounds couldn't help but acknowledge Camp's unmistakably superior qualifications.  Camp had thus won the endorsement of independent voter advocacy group Citizens Union (representing precisely 1 more Republican endorsement than the group offered borough-wide in 2006) and multiple newspapers, including... The New York Times.

Greg Camp for Assembly
...
[Outgoing Assemblyman Pete] Grannis, now a state commissioner, was a rare reformer, but there was not a hint of reformist sentiment among the handful of Democrats bigwigs who picked the Democratic candidate to replace him.

Their choice, Micah Kellner, is an appealing person, very earnest and knowledgeable about the politics of the area. But New Yorkers deserve someone chosen by voters, not a few powerful politicians. And Gregory Camp, the Republican candidate in the race, offers an excellent alternative.

That Camp pulled those two key endorsements, despite his taboo party registration, was a startlingly rare testament to the relative strength of the candidates and was newsworthy in and of itself.  Had he won, I suspect we'd be reminded of Camp's widespread editorial support.

Victory may have a thousand fathers, but defeat, it appears, is hastily abandoned at the Mayor's doorstep.

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The Gray, Forgetful Lady

Today's New York Times has a story about yesterday's State Assembly special election, won by Democrat Micah Kellner over Republican Gregory Camp.

Mr. Camp, 45, had been endorsed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Republican leaders believed he could appeal to Democratic and independent voters because of his liberal views.
...
Virtually all of Manhattan’s Democratic officials — particularly those from the East Side — endorsed Mr. Kellner, including State Senator Liz Kruger [sic], Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing and City Council members Jessica S. Lappin and Daniel R. Garodnick. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Mr. Kellner on Monday.

It wasn't only Republican leaders who supported Camp, however.  With the exception of elected Democrats, most parties who took the time to evaluate the candidates' backgrounds couldn't help but acknowledge Camp's unmistakably superior qualifications.  Camp had thus won the endorsement of independent voter advocacy group Citizens Union (representing precisely 1 more Republican endorsement than the group offered borough-wide in 2006) and multiple newspapers, including... The New York Times.

Greg Camp for Assembly
...
[Outgoing Assemblyman Pete] Grannis, now a state commissioner, was a rare reformer, but there was not a hint of reformist sentiment among the handful of Democrats bigwigs who picked the Democratic candidate to replace him.

Their choice, Micah Kellner, is an appealing person, very earnest and knowledgeable about the politics of the area. But New Yorkers deserve someone chosen by voters, not a few powerful politicians. And Gregory Camp, the Republican candidate in the race, offers an excellent alternative.

That Camp pulled those two key endorsements, despite his taboo party registration, was a startlingly rare testament to the relative strength of the candidates and was newsworthy in and of itself.  Had he won, I suspect we'd be reminded of Camp's widespread editorial support.

Victory may have a thousand fathers, but defeat, it appears, is hastily abandoned at the Mayor's doorstep.