Dec 22, 2008 — The New York State legislature is officially on break for the Holidays, but in the Senate, there is plenty of anxiety behind the scenes over which party will control the chamber come January. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Nov 05, 2008 — One of the most closely watched races statewide was the 48th Senate district in Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. Democratic Senator Darrel Aubertine defeated his Republican challenger, David Renzi - 53 to 47%. Aubertine joins the new majority in the Senate. It's the second time in less than a year that he pulled off a victory in a Republican stronghold. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Oct 01, 2008 — Democrat Michael Oot is running for Congress in the 23rd district of New York. Oot was born in Colorado but grew up in central new York. He and his wife Ann live in Stockbridge in Madison County with their combined family of five children. He's been president of his local school board, and representative to the New York State School Boards Association, as well as to New York's Rural Schools Conference. Oot is an attorney with offices in East Syracuse and Sherrill.

He says his career as a worker's compensation lawyer has taken him to courts across the district--Utica, Oswego, Auburn, Canton and Watertown--representing primarily lower and middle income people who've suffered illness or injury at work, including miners at Gouverneur Talc, St. Joe Minerals, the Zinc Company of America, Loomis Talc, and J and L. He's challenging incumbent Republican Congressman John McHugh in a district with a line of GOP representation that goes back generations. He spoke with Martha Foley late last week.  Go to full article

Aug 27, 2008 — This is widely seen as a year when Republicans are struggling. The GOP's "brand" has been damaged by scandals, by President Bush's low approval ratings, and by the unpopular war in Iraq. But surveys suggest that the GOP's rural stronghold remains largely intact. According to a recent Zogby poll, small town voters nationwide favor Republican John McCain over Democrat Barack Obama by a sixteen-point margin. Those conservative rural voters could make the difference in key battleground states, from Colorado and New Mexico in the West to Ohio in the Midwest and New Hampshire in the East. Martha Foley talks with Brian Mann who covers rural politics for NCPR.  Go to full article

Aug 25, 2008 — New York's top politicians are gathered in Denver, for four days of receptions, speech making, and hopefully, they say, political unity. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Aug 25, 2008 — Hillary Clinton is apparently doing her part to get the New York delegation behind Barack Obama. As Karen DeWitt reported, she'll release her pledged delegates before the historic roll call vote. One of her longtime supporters, Congressman Charles Rangel says it's really true. He spoke with reporters at the opening reception last night.  Go to full article

Aug 19, 2008 — The race for President continues to tighten in New York. A new Siena College poll shows Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain 47-39%, down from 50-37% in July and 51-33% in June. But state Democratic Party chair June O'Neill says it's early days yet. She agrees with what pollster Steven Greenberg said as he released the numbers yesterday: "Certainly the dynamic in the race will change with the two conventions." Not to mention the selections of vice presidential running mates. The Democratic National Convention is next week. New York's junior senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton, will have her name placed in nomination at the convention. She'll get a roll call vote. She'll also have a major speaking role at the convention, as will her husband, former President Bill Clinton. That after a bitter, and bitterly disappointing, primary campaign against Barack Obama. New York will send 281 voting delegates to the convention. Alternates bring that number up to 320; with families and friends, the total New York contingent is in the 650 range. That's the count from June O'Neill. As state chair, her role is part party whip, part travel agent. Martha Foley spoke with her during a lull, in her backyard in Morley, a rural hamlet on the edge of Canton.  Go to full article

Jul 08, 2008 — The July Fourth holiday traditionally marks the start of the run-up to the big major party conventions and the real presidential campaign. But doesn't it seem like there's been politics and campaign news just forever this year? Partly it's been primary races that wound down through John Edwards and Mitt Romney, and then the prolonged duel of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And New York has made its own share of political headlines: the disgrace of former Governor Spitzer, a bitter special election to fill a North Country senate seat, the recent resignation of longtime Republican leader Joseph Bruno and the extra pressure that puts on the GOP to maintain its Senate majority. Martha Foley, David Sommerstein and Brian Mann sort through some of the state and regional highlights starting with the GOP's struggles in New York.  Go to full article

Jun 24, 2008 — Somewhat muted in the surprise over Senator Bruno's announcement not to seek re-election is a bizarre flap involving Governor David Paterson and North Country Senator Darrel Aubertine. On Saturday, Aubertine said he was offered the chairmanship of the New York Power Authority, and that he declined it. Yesterday, Governor Patterson said the Senator from Jefferson County was never offered the job in the first place. But as David Sommerstein reports, political observers question whether the Governor's telling the truth.  Go to full article

Apr 22, 2008 — As Democrats pick a presidential candidate today in Pennsylvania, a new poll in the North Country sheds light on the mood of voters here. Generally speaking, they've got issues, and they're still thinking about the candidates. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article