Attack on Zeldin gives GOP candidate needed name recognition

By Richard Lee

When a man walked onstage and confronted Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin during a campaign event in Fairport on July 21, Zeldin emerged unharmed.

He also emerged with a powerful personal story — complete with visuals — to underscore one of the central themes of his campaign.

Zeldin has placed crime at the forefront of his agenda, charging that his opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, is soft on crime.

Hochul and Zeldin haven’t given up their day jobs

By Richard Lee

While Kathy Hochul and Lee Zeldin trade barbs on the campaign trail, the two gubernatorial candidates are making good use of the elected positions they already hold.

As governor, Hochul is effectively employing a Rose Garden strategy, using her office to announce grants, new programs and other positive developments.

In just the past seven days, she has:

• Signed a bill enhancing airport safety;
• Dedicated portions of a state roadway to veterans and first responders;

Political campaigns should take a break the way baseball does

By Richard Lee

Major League Baseball will take its annual mid-season break for the All-Star Game this week. Wouldn’t it be great if political campaigns did the same?

In political campaigns, the stakes are high and time is always short. At first glance, a brief hiatus such as baseball’s three-day All-Star break appears unwise and impractical.

But think about it for a moment.

Is a focus on crime a path to victory in NY?

By Richard Lee

Lee Zeldin’s Twitter feed leaves no doubt about what the Republican gubernatorial candidates believes is the top issue in his race with Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Crime has been the major focus of his campaign. Over the past few days, he has tweeted that he will fire Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for being soft on crime, linked Hochul with the “Defund the Police” movement and touted the law enforcement career of Alison Esposito, his lieutenant governor running mate.

But is this the best strategy for a Republican hoping to become New York’s first GOP governor since George Pataki, who served from 1995 to 2006?

Hochul, Zeldin – and the Beatles?

By Richard Lee

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour...

Those lines from the Beatles 1967 film and album “Magical Mystery Tour” are my way of inviting you to join me on a journey through this year’s New York gubernatorial contest — a race that already has had a share of unusual and unpredictable twists and turns.

A year ago, Andrew Cuomo was eyeing a fourth term as governor. Kathy Hochul was lieutenant governor and an unlikely candidate for the state’s top post. All of that changed on Aug. 10 when Cuomo announced his resignation amid a flurry of accusations of sexual harassment, and Hochul became New York’s 57th governor. 

Poll shows New Yorkers favor Yankees over Mets

By Richard Lee

When it comes to politics, New Yorkers mirror national patterns, differing on most public policy issues.

But when the topic is baseball, the state’s residents are in agreement.

According to a March 28 Siena Research Institute poll, nearly twice as many respondents (40%) identified as Yankees fans than Mets fans (21%). Seven percent were fans of other teams, and 29% were not fans of any team.

CDC’s Walensky puts media training to the test

By Richard Lee

Last week, CNN reported that Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been receiving media training from Mandy Grunwald, a political consultant and media advisor.

Outside of the political and media worlds, Grunwald is not a household name. But in 1992 she was instrumental in a strategic decision that altered the dynamics between politicians and the press.

Some thoughts on Crain’s list of ‘Most Powerful Women’ in NY State

By Richard Lee

Crain’s New York Business published its list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York this week.

Letitia James

Attorney General Letitia James is tops on the list, one slot ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Crain’s criteria for “powerful” helps explain why the state’s first female governor is No. 2 on the list.

“To compile the 2021 version of the list, Crain’s editors picked the women making the biggest waves in their respective fields,” the business news site wrote in its introduction to the list.

Deja Vu in New Jersey

By Richard Lee

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s narrow victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in Tuesday’s New Jersey governor’s election is reminiscent of Christie Whitman’s 1990 campaign for U.S. Senate.

At the time, Whitman, a Republican, was a county freeholder who was given little chance to unseat popular Democrat Bill Bradley. But voters were angry that Democrat Jim Florio and the Democratic legislature had enacted a massive tax increase. Florio wasn’t on the ballot, so Bradley felt the wrath of New Jersey voters and just barely defeated Whitman.

One question with Jesse Jackson

By Richard Lee

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who turns 80 Friday, has been a civil rights leader, a candidate for president and an international activist. And a few minutes of his 80 years were spent with me.

We had very brief conversation in 1988 when he was seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. Though short, the conversation taught me a valuable lesson about journalism.