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.
"Chuck also said that Marty didn't support him in the primary 15, 10 years ago. He's entitled to make endorsements on the basis he wishes. But I think we're making an endorsement, not on the basis of [who] supported whom ten years ago, or who worked for who, or who is a personal friend, but who we believe is the most progressive, and the most activist, most effective senator for this district."
I wouldn't go as far as saying that Nadler took a shot at Schumer there, although it could be viewed in that light. But all Nadler is saying is that Schumer puts personal relationships over everything else every time. That might be a bad thing but it also could be a good thing, depending on your viewpoint.
This primary is going to be an intense one. Connor has a lot of backing from incumbent Democrats. Squadron has the backing of one of the most prominent incumbent Democrats in the state.
