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As Gillibrand Gathers Endorsements, Ford Calls It ‘Underhanded’

Former Representative Harold E. Ford Jr. accused Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand on Sunday of using “underhanded tactics” to try to keep him off the ballot, and he urged New York City Democratic Party officials to delay an endorsement amid intense wrangling over how to handle his potential candidacy.

Mr. Ford, who has given himself the next 30 days to decide whether to challenge Ms. Gillibrand in the Democratic primary, is seeking to counter what he and his allies say is an organized campaign by Ms. Gillibrand to dissuade him from running.

Ms. Gillibrand has collected endorsements from 56 of the state’s 62 Democratic county leaders and is encouraging those who remain undecided to quickly make up their minds. Under party rules, a candidate must receive at least 25 percent of the county endorsements — weighted by population — to run in the primary in September. The endorsement of the county chairmen in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, who remain undecided, would help Mr. Ford come close to 25 percent.

If Mr. Ford were to miss that mark, he would have to organize a petition drive — collecting 15,000 signatures from across the state — to get on the ballot, a cumbersome and costly process.

In a letter to the chairman of the Manhattan Democratic Party, which may make its endorsement in the Senate race this week, Mr. Ford argued that it “seems early” for such a decision, since the state party’s nominating convention is not until May. A copy of his letter to the chairman, Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright, was obtained by The New York Times.

Allies of Mr. Ford, who was elected to Congress from Memphis in 1996 and served 10 years before moving to New York, contend that Ms. Gillibrand is seeking to deny him a spot on the ballot by wrapping up endorsements before he has decided to run.

“They are trying to shut him out,” said the chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, who has expressed enthusiasm for a Ford candidacy.

“She is going around day and night trying to close down party leaders sitting on the fence,” he said. “What is the purpose? To close out the opportunity for Ford to get on the ballot.”

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I'd say Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand is playing good politics.  That's what one is supposed to do. She is speeding up her game and getting herself some solid support.

I like this. Good for you Kirsten!


-- Edited by Sanders on Monday 8th of February 2010 09:27:04 AM