Dec 18, 2006 — The Democrat who twice failed to defeat Republican Congressman John McHugh says it's "highly unlikely" he's run again. Dr. Bob Johnson says a successful candidate would have to win organized labor's support and raise more money. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 08, 2006 — It was a devastating night for New York's Republicans. Democrats unseated two incumbents and captured an open seat vacated by Republican Sherwood Boehlert. Oneida County District Attorney Mike Arcuri, a Democrat, ran away with the 24rd congressional district race, beating state Senator Ray Meier by an astonishing 9 percentage points. One of the night's biggest upsets came in the 20th Congressional district, which stretches from Poughkeepsie to Lake Placid. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand ran a smart and sometimes nasty campaign to unseat 4-term incumbent John Sweeney. As Brian Mann reports, Sweeney's was seen as safe just a week ago.  Go to full article

Nov 08, 2006 — Democrats picked up another New York district considered solidly Republican. Oneida County District Attorney Mike Arcuri tallied a solid margin against Republican state Senator Ray Meier in the 24th. With 83 percent of the vote counted last night, Arcuri had 53 percent of the vote. The Watertown Times reports this morning that the district hasn't sent a Democrat to Washington in 60 years. Longtime moderate Sherwood Boehlert retierd from the seat this year. Musician-politician John Hall defeated 12-year Republican Sue Kelly in the 19th Congressional District. Hall wrote the 70s pop hits "Still the One" and "Dance with Me." In the 26th District, Republican Representative Tom Reynolds held onto his seat after becoming ensnared in the congressional page scandal. Freshman Republican Randy Kuhl beat Navy veteran and anti-Iraq war candidate Eric Massa in the conservative rural 29th District.  Go to full article

Nov 06, 2006 — Wes Clark, the former NATO general and presidential candidate, campaigned for Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday in the town of Catskill. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton will stump for Gillibrand at separate rallies today. Meanwhile, questions about Republican John Sweeney's involvement in a domestic dispute at his home last December continued to simmer through the weekend. In an editorial published Saturday, the Glens Falls Post-Star withdrew its endorsement of Sweeney. For the first time, an independent poll shows Gillibrand leading the race by 3 percentage points. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Nov 06, 2006 — Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand's narrow 3-point advantage is within the poll's margin of error. According to Siena College, Gillibrand leads Republican John Sweeney by 9 points in southern counties of the 20th congressional district and is running dead even here in the North Country. The two candidates hold equal support among men and women. The poll was taken last week just as the first news of the Sweeneys' domestic incident was coming out. Brian asked Siena College spokesman Steven Greenberg whether the numbers could shift again before Tuesday.  Go to full article

Nov 03, 2006 — At noon today, Mountain Lake PBS will broadcast a series of pre-recorded campaign debates. One of those debates features Congressman John McHugh, the Republican incumbent in the 23rd district, and Democratic challenger Dr. Bob Johnson. Brian Mann was part of the panel of journalists interviewing the two politicians. Mountain Lake PBS has generously agreed to allow North Country Public Radio to broadcast a portion of the debate. The moderator is Plattsburgh attorney Bill Owens.  Go to full article

Nov 02, 2006 — The 20th congressional district race was rocked yesterday when two newspapers published reports of a domestic incident in December involving Republican incumbent John Sweeney and his wife Gaia, who goes by the name Gayle. The Albany Times-Union and the New York Daily News reported that Sweeney allegedly grabbed his wife by the neck. The development comes with just a week left in the campaign, as Sweeney faces the toughest re-election fight of his career against Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Brian Mann has the story.  Go to full article

Oct 30, 2006 — It's Monday morning and that means Martha Foley checks in with Brian Mann for a look at the election campaigns that are underway around the North Country and New York state.  Go to full article

Oct 27, 2006 — After Wednesday night's debate between John McHugh and Bob Johnson in Massena, David Sommerstein asked some potential voters what was on their mind as election day approached.  Go to full article

Oct 27, 2006 — New Yorkers running for office this year are near the bottom of a non-partisan government watchdog group's "open-ness" scale.
Project Vote Smart asks candidates to share their views on issues in an annual survey. In New York, only 25 percent of Congressional candidates would. The national response rate was 48 percent. Vote Smart says voters are the losers. VoteSmart contacts candidates each election cycle. Willing candidates are sent a questionnaire - the N-PAT, National Political Awareness test. Mary Gillespie, research coordinator for Vote Smart said response rates have fallen dramatically over the last three election cycles. Congressional candidate responses were at their high in New York in 1996 - 61 percent. She told Martha Foley Vote Smart is hearing a couple of reasons for the decline.  Go to full article