This real bad news for GOP incumbent Serph Maltese. The man who almost beat him in 2006 and was threating to run a third party (his own "Hope and Change" party) campaign if he lost the Dem primary with City Councilman Joe Addabbo, is dropping out of the race According to Liz:
Democratic sources confirm Albert Baldeo, who came within some 800 votes of ousting veteran Republican Sen. Serphin Maltese in 2006, will throw his support to the Democratic establishment candidate, Councilman Joe Addabbo, this afternoon and stop campaigning.
Techincally speaking, Baldeo can't officially drop out of the race since it's too late to remove his name from the primary ballot.
The formal announcement will be made at 3 p.m. at Baldeo's law offices on Liberty Avenue. Also expected to attend are Addabbo, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Rep. Greg Meeks and Queens Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley.
This is not good news for Maltese, who is one of the Democrats' top targets as they try to take control of the Senate from the GOP this fall. Baldeo had threatened to remain in the general election on a third party line, which could have made a difference in a contest that's expected to be very close.
This is huge news. Maltese was in real, genuine trouble before this news. Now, he's gonna need all the help that Skelos can give him. This is an existential fight for the guy.
It won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but this one looks to be a pickup, folks.
More soon.
On the web: Joe Addabbo at ActBlue. |
