NY-21: Tonko Wins Handily

Hmm. (4.00 / 1)

Good for him. To me that's not actually a bigger surprise than Kryzan in 26.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:12:02 AM UTC

That should be (4.00 / 1)

IS a bigger surprise.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:12:39 AM UTC

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Be more specific -- what result wouldn't have been a surprise? (4.00 / 1)

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by: twb @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:14:54 AM UTC

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P.S. Me, I'm always surprised with disappointment on election day... (4.00 / 1)

...so that it's not really a surprise to be disappointed.  But thank God we avoided the huge (Brooks) disappointment.

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by: twb @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:15:47 AM UTC

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I thought Brooks (4.00 / 2)

as a woman, was a lock.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:17:12 AM UTC

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Not a surprise (0.00 / 0)

Paul is a well-respected long time elected - who represented a greater portion of the district than most folks realized - his lines changed three times through redistricting.

Lots of folks were concerned about his decidedly lackluster and at times nonexistent campaign - but voters knew him and liked him and voted for him.

He's a great guy.  Very happy for him.

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by: Lead Dog @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 04:40:34 AM UTC

That was cool! (4.00 / 2)

This primary was awesome.  As I watched the results roll in on the news while celebrating David Weiss's spirited longshot run in the 46th Senate District, I couldn't help but pay attention to the results of this one as well.

From the first polls reported, it was a Tonko knockout.  I stopped watching after around 33% and hearing of Darius's and Phil's Steck's concessions.  I did not see any other concessions, but I did hear somewhere that things were supposed to "close" and that one candidate had "momentum" in the race.

But that was cool!  Best thing I can come up with; and a resounding victory earned by Paul Tonko!  He won one of the most hotly contested races in the state in the most crowded field of competitive competitors.  And the results actually are rather shocking, and very interesting as well...

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by: Soundpolitic @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 04:46:07 AM UTC

Behold: (0.00 / 0)

The power of having been elected multiple times and having the reputation of a lawmaker.  Makes more of a difference to the kind of voters who would never dream of reading blogs....

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by: robinia @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 14:21:28 PM UTC

Not surprising (4.00 / 1)

I expected Tonko to win, on name rec alone.  It's a shame, because he had to actually do very little to earn the win.  Regardless, he's a good guy, and will make a good Congressman.  I expected Steck to outperform Brooks.  Don't know why, but I just had that feeling.  And while my horse in the race, Darius, came in fourth, that's about how I figured it'd end up.  

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by: Jrathman @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 15:27:13 PM UTC

That is pretty offensive: (0.00 / 0)

I worked my ass off on Paul Tonko's campaign. To suggest that we did very little is an outright lie. Despite the name recognition, despite the outstanding record, despite the widespread grassroots support:

We ran a campaign that took nothing for granted. Period.

From phone banking, manned by volunteers, nearly every night - to knocking on doors nights and weekends when we weren't making calls, to stuffing mailers, to attending each and every social event possible, to participating in nearly every debate... Paul Tonko's campaign was heavy, we just didn't participate in the nasty side of things - so you probably missed it.

But the election is over, I personally congratulated Darius Shahinfar on running a great campaign - and Phil for running a campaign. It takes a lot of work, and I have been on the losing side before - it takes a backbone for you to show up at your opponents rally and concede (especially when all you want to do is go home to your family and get a good night's rest).

It is time for us to come together as Democrats, and help on this and many other races across the State and Country.

Let's get Paul Tonko elected, and take back the Senate folks.

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by: PineHillsResident @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 22:17:43 PM UTC

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