Chuck Schumer

ALBANY - It's official - Hillary Clinton has been nominated as secretary of state.

Here's what Senator Chuck Schumer had to say about it:  read more »

ALBANY—Senator Chuck Schumer said this afternoon that he had heard no negative reaction to New York State's inaction in undertaking budget cuts, and that the delays may even work to the benefit of the economy.

Schumer was asked directly whether he had heard criticism of Albany's inability to enact budget cuts in Washington, and answered, "No."  read more »

ALBANY—Senator Chuck Schumer declined to answer questions about who he thinks should fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat when she becomes secretary of state, except to say it should be "someone who can do a really good job."  read more »

David Paterson hadn't even finished announcing an effort to crack down on the causes of asthma in the Bronx when Representative Jose Serrano joked to reporters at the press conference that, no, he wasn't lobbying the governor about a replacement for Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

"I did that last week," Serrano said. There was lots of laughter, including from Paterson.  read more »

WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Schumer will exit the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee after two cycles as the chief of the campaign arm, Schumer’s office confirmed Monday afternoon.

The Associated Press reported today that Schumer would be leaving the DSCC, with the second-term Senator telling the wire service that he’s had “a great run” at the committee.  read more »

WASHINGTON—Senator Chuck Schumer's status as Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee became no clearer following a closed-door Democratic Caucus meeting today.

Asked about whether Schumer would be staying on in the campaign role, his potential successor, New Jersey Senator Robert Mendendez said only, "Ask Harry Reid," before hurrying away.  read more »

WASHINGTON – When it comes to his future at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the normally talkative Chuck Schumer is anything but.  read more »

Just about every story written about Rahm Emanuel since Barack Obama selected him to serve as White House chief of staff has described him as the tough Chicago operative who became the consummate Washington insider.

But how sensitive will the bulldog at Mr. Obama’s gate be to New York interests?

“We’re fortunate to have a president-elect who represents a big state, who lives in a big city, who understands the needs of cities like ours,” Hillary Clinton told The Observer during a conference call on Nov. 11. “I think we are going to have a strong ear in the White House.  read more »

“Before I took over, there was sort of an unwritten rule—do you mind if I put my feet up?” said Chuck Schumer, as he plopped his black stockinged feet onto a conference room in his Third Avenue office on the afternoon of Nov. 9.

As he chewed his way through a bag of oatmeal cookies, the senator explained how, as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, he bucked tradition and recruited promising Senate candidates before primary contests, leading to a pick-up (so far) of six seats to add to the six the party picked up during his first cycle in charge two years ago.  read more »

City and state officials are positioning themselves to garner funding from any new federal stimulus package for various transportation and infrastructure projects. Most of the projects are smaller-scale and nearly ready to start development.

It’s hoped, officials say, that new federal funds from the stimulus will push the projects forward.

“Infrastructure is huge for us,” said a state official, who said that in addition to infrastructure funding, the state is seeking help from Washington on unemployment insurance and food stamps, among other issues. “Anything that will put people back to work and get the economy flowing again in short order.  read more »

Neither of these is particularly surprising, but Democrats are two seats closer to 60—Jeanne Shaheen is now projected to oust John Sununu in a rematch of their 2002 New Hampshire race, and Kay Hagan has defeated Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina. The real test of whether this is becomes a great night for Senate Democrats—and for DSCC chair Chuck Schumer—is whether they can pull an upset in Kentucky, Georgia or Mississippi.

A new poll from Siena College [PDF] of six key State Senate races show Democrats on the verge of ousting an incumbent on Long Island, and successfully defending a seat in Erie County, but losing in Buffalo--and possibly even in Quee  read more »

If you ask Chuck Schumer or Harry Reid, they’ll give you a cautious answer about their party’s prospects of attaining a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate next Tuesday. It’s possible and it would be great if it happened, they have said over and over, but it will by no means be a disappointment if we fall short of it.

But it will be.

Before the economic crisis took hold, several Republican incumbents who were perceived as vulnerable at the start of the 2008 cycle seemed to have dodged a bullet. Public outcry over Iraq, which had actually gained steam in the first few months after the 2006 elections, had dramatically subsided.  read more »

Last night, after Hillary Clinton presented an award to Iris Weinshall at the 38th annual Women Write the World gala, Weinshall's husband, Chuck Schumer, explained how valuable his wife has been to his political career.

Taking the stage, Schumer recounted a night years ago, during Ed Koch's third term as mayor.  read more »

On Jan. 21, 2007, Michael Bloomberg, Charles Schumer and Eliot Spitzer stood below a portrait of Thomas Jefferson in City Hall and warned that New York could lose its status as the world’s preeminent financial center.

“The 20th century was the American century in no small part because of our economic dominance in the financial services industry, which has always been centered in New York,” Messrs. Bloomberg and Schumer had written as preface to a McKinsey & Co. report unveiled at the press conference.

“The industry,” the preface read, “will continue to experience rapid growth in the 21st century, which holds great promise for our nation—but only if we take seriously our competitors, who are rapidly gaining ground.  read more »

Barack Obama and John McCain both spoke at the Al Smith dinner at the Waldorf Astoria last night, an event so glamorous that even New York’s shoes-optional senator, Chuck Schumer, was dressed to the nines.

While war protesters held mock funerals for American democracy and McCain supporters waved signs like “I Heart Trig,” Schumer walked toward the ballroom, wearing a white shirt and white bow tie under black tux.

I asked him how the event, the last time the two candidates would appear publicly together, would differ from the prior night’s debate.

“This one will be much lighter and more fun,” said Schumer, suggesting that McCain had to abandon his aggressive line of attack.  read more »

The evening of Oct. 15 marked not only the final debate of the long presidential campaign, but also the last installment of the now time-honored tradition of the post-debate spin room.

Last night, as reporters bounced dutifully between the little clusters around the yellow square signs identifying backers of McCain and the blue rectangular banners above the heads of Obama supporters, they’d heard practically everything the two camps had said before. But some remarks were notable nonetheless, if only for their sheer spinniness.

Some highlights follow.

Here's Obama campaign manager, David Plouffe, a talking campaign memo, on where the campaign goes from here:

"We want to hold down all of the Kerry states.  read more »

This sign was spotted by a reader in Borough Park and again in a predominantly Jewish enclave at the edge of Kensington (around 50th Street and 10th Avenue) in Brooklyn.

The tag line, in Hebrew and English--If Simcha loses, We All Lose--is a pretty direct appeal for votes along identity lines.

Felder is running for State Senate against incumbent Kevin Parker and fellow City Councilman Kendall Stewart, whose volunteers gave me more than a fair share of fliers at the subway station this morning.

Interestingly, Stewart's palm card asks voters not only to elect him, but to "re-elect" Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (and Congressman Ed Towns).  read more »

It's hard not to notice Dan Squadron these days. Voters are hearing the voice of Michael Bloomberg. They're seeing Chuck Schumer's name. And more than a few have had their hands shaken by Anthony Weiner.

The 28-year-old Democratic State Senate candidate, who has never held public office and whose experience has been largely under Schumer's tutelage, is looking to unseat 30-year incumbent Marty Connor of the Lower East Side.

Under normal circumstances, it would be an uphill battle--an insurgent candidate against a well-situated incumbent. But Squadron has built a campaign formidable enough to make it hard to identify which candidate is the underdog.  read more »

Blake Zeff, a former spokesman for Hillary Clinton, will be the new director of communications in New York for Barack Obama, effective today.

Zeff, who confirmed the move, was part of the muscular press office Clinton assembled from veterans of Chuck Schumer's legendary communications operation, but unlike Howard Wolfson or Phil Singer, Zeff stayed mostly below the radar. Since Clinton dropped out of the race he he has remained well-liked and highly regarded by the Obama campaign.

He's especially valued for his knowledge of the New York press corps, an expertise he gained working for Schumer from 2002 to 2005 and then as the communications director state Democratic party in 2006. In the interim between the two campaigns he helped Schumer with his book about how to win back the middle class.

David Paterson had only been at the podium for a few moments when the cheers faded and a woman yelled out, “We love you David!”

Paterson replied, “Once again, my past is catching up with me,” likely a reference to the extramarital affairs he's admitted to having, although moments later he said he thought his mother was in the audience.

Paterson emphasized the importance of recognizing Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments.

The governor recalled how his father, who ran for lieutenant governor in the 1970s, was treated.

“They told him he was an asset on that ticket," Paterson said. "When they got to the general election, they never even mentioned his name in the paid television campaign ads.  read more »

He's everywhere. Moments after he accompanied Hillary Clinton onto the floor here for her big roll call moment, he went up on stage to deliver the big rah-rah speech for the Democratic Senate candidates. Here's a slightly blurry version of what it looked like for the New York delegates.

After Michelle Obama's remarks concluded the first day of the democratic Convention, I ran into Senator Chuck Schumer of New York waiting for a car outside the Pepsi center. He was very pleased with the way things had gone so far.

"Flawless," he said. "Michelle Obama—if 25 percent of Americans were watching that, we'll go up 5 percent in the polls. It was beautiful. I had tears in my eyes with Kennedy and I had more tears in my eyes with Michelle Obama. How beautiful."

"The whole key to this convention," he added, "is that the only way McCain wins is to say Barack is not like us, and they do it in a nasty way.  read more »

Hillary Clinton is still sending mixed messages.

Speaking at a press conference this morning following a breakfast with the New York delegation at the Sheraton hotel in Denver, during which called on her supporters to support Barack Obama, she said she would release her delegates to vote for Obama on Wednesday and would vote for Obama herself. But Clinton also argued that her delegates should have the chance to vote for her during Wednesday’s convention roll call.

Clinton spoke for about 15 minutes about the steady process of party unity and all the work she had done to convince her supporters to vote for Obama during the convention and in the election.  read more »

DENVER—Bill Perkins, one of the first New York elected officials to endorse Barack Obama, jumped out of his seat and let out an ear-piercing whistle as Hillary Clinton addressed party unity in a speech to the New York delegation this morning.

“I think she hit a home run,” he said when I asked him about the speech later; he also called it “a transformational expression of support.” Perkins went on, “If that enthusiasm continues, then it’s done and she gets credit for moving [her supporters] into the victory column.”

Representative Charlie Rangel, who gave a fist-bump to Chuck Schumer after giving his own address, called Clinton’s speech “fantastic.  read more »

Also at last night's debate in Brooklyn, Kendall Stewart was handing out campaign literature, a 16-page broadsheet designed to look like a newspaper, complete with a masthead.

The front-page has a letter from Stewart, in which he uses the word “change” a lot, and a huge picture of Barack Obama next to a photo of Stewart.

Inside, there are photos of Stewart with other elected officials, like Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Senator Chuck Schumer, Brooklyn Democratic County Leader Vito Lopez, and City Comptroller Bill Thompson, all under the headline “Stewart Supporters.”

There is also an article reprinted from Gotham Gazette; original “articles”; a section called “Immigration Korner”; and glowing praise for Stewart from elected officials like Christine Quinn, Bill de Blasio and Hiram Monserrate.

More pictures here.

Hillary Clinton held a private meeting for supporters last night at Cipriani's, thanking them for their help during the primary.

Introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer, who spoke about local issues in Mount Vernon and Westchester County, Clinton addressed key supporters, including Hassan Nemazee, Alan Patricof, and Fred Hochberg, and elected officials like Tom DiNapoli and Tom Suozzi.

According to one of the attendees, Clinton did not discuss her future plans.

The event wasn't explicitly a fund-raiser, but at one point Patricof asked guests, once again, to work to help Clinton erase her campaign debt.

UPDATE: The attendee described Clinton as "very much at peace" and characterized the meeting as a sort of final thank you for the campaign.  read more »

Appearing on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show (hosted today by Amy Eddings), Chuck Schumer praised Barack Obama and said he isn't worried about Obama's lack of progress in the general election polls because he's still an unknown figure to voters.

Schumer said the polls will swing to the Democat "as people get to know Obama--and particularly if he campaigns on issues. " Then he added, "With one caveat: they do have to hit back."

The message behind McCain's "Celeb" ad, Schumer said, was, "He's not one of us, he's a celebrity, he's an elitist".

"That's what they did with John Kerry," Schumer said, adding, "I would have been a little tougher."

Asked if he had any suggestions for Obama's V.P. pick Schumer replied, "Not publicly."

Here’s that decade-old shark ad I referenced earlier, in which the New York Republican State Committee told upstate voters that “Sheldon Silver and the New York City Democrats just picked a New York City liberal for every major statewide office.”

And they’re going to tax and spend, the ad says. While the ad only names Sheldon Silver, it was a not-so-veiled effort to protect Republican Senator Al D'Amato from his Democratic challenger that year, then-congressman Chuck Schumer.

The regional appeal is similar -- in spirit, at least -- to the plea Republican State Senate Leader Dean Skelos made in his letter to upstate billionaire Tom Golisano - who says he’ll spend $5 million in this year’s legislative races.  read more »

In a letter dated today to billionaire Tom Golisano - who is vowing to pour $5 million into this year‘s elections - Republican Senate leader Dean Skelos makes the case that Republicans are the ones who have tried to make state government fiscally prudent and transparent.

And Skelos ends the letter by reminding Golisano, a Rochester man, that Democrats aren't so much from upstate. (Old theme!)

“Without the checks and balances we assure, state government would be totally controlled by Democrats from New York City. Keep in mind that a Democrat-controlled Senate would be lead by Malcolm Smith of Queens, Tom Duane from Greenwich Village (Manhattan) and Jeff Klein from the Bronx. The Assembly would be lead by Speaker Sheldon Silver of Manhattan. Thus, it is critical that you join our fight and help us achieve reform.”

At a press conference on the City Hall steps just now, incumbent State Senator Marty Connor was endorsed by the five members of Congress whose districts overlap with his: Ed Towns, Nydia Velazquez, Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler. (Yvette Clarke is endorsing him too, but did not attend).

Afterward, I asked the group what they think of Chuck Schumer’s support of Connor’s opponent, Dan Squadron.

Nadler, the only one to answer the question, offered the following:

"Well, Chuck is entitled to put considerations of personal friendship over everything else that we have talked about, and he’s said that’s exactly what he has done. Marty’s opponent worked for Chuck, is the co-author of his book with him, and I understand a personal loyalty," Nadler said.  read more »

Although it sometimes seems like 30-year incumbent State Senator Marty Connor is playing the underdog role in his race against young, Schumer-backed challenger Dan Squadron, Connor certainly has his share of establishment backing.

And here's more! On Monday, a number of members of Congress will endorse Connor at City Hall.

A release promises Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velázquez at a press conference, as well as the possibility of Yvette Clarke, and the endorsement of Ed Towns, although he won't be able to make it. (He has to fend off Kevin Powell, after all.)

On Facebook, there are pages where former Marines catch up and where Ivy League university graduates connect. And then there is the Chuck Schumer Alumni Group, which is a cross between the two.

Mr. Schumer, New York's famously hard-driving senior senator, is something of a Genghis Khan of politics. Like a particular Y chromosome, his unique imprint can be found in the professional DNA of an improbably high percentage of well-placed political types who served him in various capacities in his Assembly, House and Senate offices; on his campaigns; or on staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

"They work long and hard, but they learn a lot," said Mr.  read more »

Marty Connor was endorsed by a number of his Democratic colleagues in the State Senate at a press conference on the City Hall steps just now.

While Connor racked up a good number of endorsements, his opponent, Dan Squadron, has the support of one very notable elected official: Chuck Schumer.

I asked two of these State Senators how they felt about Schumer’s involvement in the campaign.

Jeff Klein of the Bronx said, “Well, with all due respect to Senator Schumer, he represents us in the United States Senate. I think it’s clear that the senators that matter endorse Marty Connor.”

Bill Perkins chimed in, “Chuck has a history of endorsing those that work for him.  read more »

Representative Charlie Rangel, who has recently faced a flurry of tough , intense press coverage, is having what appears to be an enormous birthday party for himself at Central Park's Tavern on the Green on Wednesday, August 6.

The invitation notes that Bill and Hillary Clinton, David Paterson, Chuck Schumer, Andrew Cuomo, Tom DiNapoli, Malcolm Smith, Bill Thompson and Christine Quinn will be there. The "special guest" is Howard Dean.

The event will be a fund-raiser for Rangel's campaign committee, the Victory Fund. The committee is highlighting the "top ten targeted house races," all of which are in the DCCC's "Red to Blue" project.  read more »

Since Dean Skelos, the new State Senate majority leader, has said he will make addressing property taxes a major priority, and it's likely that taxes will be an issue in the upcoming election, I recently asked both candidates in the 25th Senate District about their positions on the issue.

Incumbent Marty Connor favors raising taxes on the wealthy (a "relatively small" hike, he wrote), while his challenger, Dan Squadron, wants to look to the federal government to guarantee school funds in exchange for tax cuts for the middle class. Squadron, if he wins, would likely have access to Washington because of his former boss, Chuck Schumer.  read more »

Earlier today the Bush administration made clear they don't intend to intervene in the negotiations between the Iraqi government and several large oil companies.

Chuck Schumer, along with Claire McCaskill and John Kerry, responded quickly with a letter to Condoleezza Rice asking her to prevent the deals from going forward until there is an oil-revenue sharing law.

Both Schumer and Kerry are on the Senate Finance Committee; Kerry and McCaskill are both surrogates for Barack Obama, whose campaign has been going after John McCain for McCain's new, oil company-friendly position on offshore drilling.

Here's the release along with the letter (which, weirdly, doesn't include McCaskill's name at the end of it).  read more »

MTV reportedly shot a reality show featuring socialite Tinsley Mortimer, but the project was killed because she just got dressed and went out to parties every day. [P6]

Kelly Cutrone responded to The Observer's commenters' questioning of her age by scanning her driver's license. She is, in fact, 42-years-old as she had told Meredith Bryan. [The Cut]

Christie Brinkley went to New York Supreme Court yesterday to ask that her divorce from Peter Cook be made public. The documents reportedly contain details about Mr. Cook trolling porn and swinger websites for young women. [Access Hollywood]

Chuck Schumer will appear on Law and Order: Criminal Intent as himself on Sunday night.  read more »

From Observer contributor Em Whitney:

Brooklyn’s Hasidic community was well represented last night at the Polonaise Terrace in Greenpoint, where the Seneca Club – the borough’s oldest Democratic organization -- held its 109th annual dinner dance. During an awards ceremony, I sat at the kosher table and talked to some of the attendees about presidential politics.

“It’s sad that Hillary’s not in the race anymore,” said Simcha Eichenstein, the associate director of political and governmental services at The Friedlander Group. “She was the best remaining candidate of the final three. But when it comes to our issues, Obama could be very good.”

He went on to list Obama’s presidential qualities and the liberal policies that Eichenstein said put Obama in line with Democrats in Hasidic community, pausing only briefly to express a familiar reservation: “He could have more of a stance on Israel.”

“I wish I could vote for Hillary,” he concluded.

Another Hasidic attendee, who didn’t want to be named, said, “As Democrats, we now have to be unified behind the Democratic candidate, but it’s not so good because [Clinton] is a senator from our neighborhood. We felt that she had a better understanding of our needs.”

Better, he explained, than others: “We have more access to her than we do Schumer.”