| In a Friday afternoon surprise move, Rep. Nydia Velazquez has pulled her name out of consideration for Sen. Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat.
In a statement, Velazquez said she would stay in the House, where she now chairs the Latino Caucus and the Small Business Committee.
"My friend Hillary Clinton has done an outstanding job for New York in the Senate, and will go on to be an exceptional Secretary of State. Our state is fortunate to have many capable, experienced individuals who would serve our state well as her replacement. While I have been proud and humbled to be considered, I have decided to stay as a senior member of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Small Business Committee, and Chair of the Hispanic Caucus.
Going forward, I will keep advocating for more Hispanics in statewide office. With Latinos making up over 16 percent of New York's population, and that number expected to grow - increased representation, at all levels, is paramount to reflect the changing face of our state. Governor Paterson has my full backing as he makes his decision, and I will give my support and counsel to help our next Senator achieve success for New York."
This is somewhat of a surprise considering Velazquez was considered a front-runner at one point. She had a lot to offer. Not only does she have experience as an elected official, but she has experience in Washington D.C. She also gave Governor David Paterson a chance to appeal to two key demographics: Latinos and women.
However, as Liz pointed out, once Velazquez was labeled a front-runner, her name started to get dragged through the mud:
However, almost as soon as Velazquez's name emerged, the whisper campaign began in an effort to tear her down, with detractors quietly reminding reporters about her suicide attempt and questioning her fundraising capability.
It also didn't help matters that the congresswoman doesn't get along with Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez, who flatly informed me when I last saw him in Albany that there was no way Velazquez would become a US senator.
By the sounds of it, those negatives aren't why Velazquez pulled out of the running. I certainly hope she didn't pull out for those reasons.
In any case, she will still be one of New York's strongest Democrats in the House. That is not a bad alternative. We will find a strong U.S. senator to represent us. |
