Also at The Albany Project
Americans for Prosperity, the Koch billionaires-founded and funded astroturf group that has FAILfully shadowed Netroots Nation for the last three years, is pitching in some in NY-20, where Rep. Scott Murphy faces a strong challenge from Republican/tea partier Chris Gibson.
An e-mail alert about canvassing Saturday is being shared by local tea party groups, who have been all in for Gibson from the get-go, in the most Republican-by-registration district in the state.
Since the few dozen active tea partiers around here are already committed to field work, mostly for Gibson, this will probably be another AFP FAIL.
Details, and some good news about Cuomo, Gillibrand and Bill Clinton turning out for Murphy, in the three days before Tuesday, below.
The e-mail is from AFP's New York Grassroots Chairs Greg and Lisa Thurn, who are evidently Becktards from Western New York, about five hours away from the meetup site in Saratoga County.
That smells like FAIL right there -- astroturfers trying to scare up volunteers from all the way across the state.
The fill-in-the-blank e-mail was obviously written by Koch billionaires-funded AFP staff, and will do little to inspire the locals.
While the astroturfers will be FAILing in Saratoga County Saturday, Andrew Cuomo, our next governor and a no-doubt landslide winner Tuesday will be appearing with Murphy (and excellent state Senate challengers Joanne Yepsen and Susan Savage) at Lakeside Farms and Cider Mill on Schauber Road in Ballston Lake at 11 a.m.
Cuomo's popularity upstate will surely help Murphy, as will the inevitable media coverage of his only Capital District rally appearance in the last week.
On Sunday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who won NY-20 twice before being appointed to the Senate, will join Murphy at a traditional last-weekend stop -- the Country View Diner on Route 7 in Brunswick (time TBD).
Gillibrand was there right before both of her House victories, and with Murphy on the Sunday before the special election in March 2009 (photo at right). As then, the local media will be reporting a visit by our Senator to her old district.
The biggie is on Monday -- a morning rally with Bill Clinton at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs.
Clinton did two last-week rallies for Gillibrand in 2006, which certainly helped her win by 6 against Miami Mob Leader John Sweeney.
And, of course, media coverage is guaranteed any time a former President is in town.
This is a public event, starting at 7:20 a.m. Tickets are required, if you're nearby and interested in seeing the Big Dog in a relatively small setting for free, here's the e-mail to request tickets.
In a close election like NY-20 this year, base turnout is essential. Three Democratic superstars doing public, media-covered events with Murphy on the three days before Election Day will boost turnout of Democrats and independents who will be voting for Cuomo and Gillibrand Tuesday, and who like Bill Clinton.
But that will not be enough, IMO, since a sustained, effective GOTV is also very important.
Andrew Cuomo, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Bill Clinton are doing their part to hold this seat. Please do whatever you can to join them.