Politics on the Hudson

The husband of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is making a prediction on what she will do after she steps down from her cabinet post, as planned, at the end of 2012.

Former President Bill Clinton told Newsmax.com on Sunday that his wife ”will have a major role to play in the nongovernmental world. That’s what she plans to do and I think she’ll do it well.”

The former president said,  ”Around the world, she’s done an enormous amount of good, in you know, the so-called soft power areas empowering women and girls, educating them, giving them access to capital, helping them make a living, promoting better healthcare practices.”

Here’s the link:

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/clinton-bill-hillary-president/2011/11/27/id/419171

Former President Bill Clinton yesterday weighed in on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts at creating regional economic councils, saying the move has increased confidence among outsiders in New York’s government.

Clinton was speaking at an economic conference that included Cuomo announcing plans by tech companies to invest more than $4 billion in New York.

Cuomo’s Spending and Government Efficiency Commission took part in the conference. The group, of which state Sen. Greg Ball is a member, seeks ways to cut waste and streamline government.

“Unlike what we are seeing in Congress, we have been able to illustrate the strength of working together as a team and in a bipartisan fashion. Working with Governor Cuomo we cut state spending, passed an on time balanced budget and stood firm against all tax hikes, while proactively capping property taxes across the state. That type of progress took real team work and I applaud the Governor for heightening SAGE’s image. I’m honored to be part of a team that is focused specifically on cutting duplicative services and getting government out of the way so that beleaguered entrepreneurs and small businesses can do what they do best: create jobs!, ” Ball said in a statement.

“The old way of doing business in Albany is no longer an option,” said Senator Ball. “I’m thrilled and applaud Governor Cuomo for bringing new attention and focus to our efforts to streamline state government. Reinventing state government and streamlining our processes to make New York State open for business and job creation will be difficult because of political pitfalls and inner turf battles. To create jobs and entice new investment into our state we must cut through the clutter of state bureaucracy, nepotism and patronage, the former President is a great public image boost, making our commitment to the task public and real!”

Rep. Eric Cantor has endorsed Dr. Nan Hayworth in her run against Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. From the Hayworth campaign:

Republican Whip Eric Cantor says Hayworth will be vital part of new Congress

MONROE – Republican Whip Eric Cantor electrified Republican supporters when he said Nan Hayworth would be a vital part of a new Congress that will help rebuild the nation’s economy.

“This is one of the most decisive races in one of the most important elections in our lifetime,” Rep. Cantor told Hayworth supporters gathered at the Monroe home of Don Beeler. “A new Republican majority is going to be a majority that listens to the people. People are out of work and they want to get back to work. And Nancy Pelosi should be out of work next year.”

Orange County leaders Ed Diana, the county executive, and Bill DeProspo, Republican Party chairman for the county, also gave their enthusiastic backing to Hayworth at the Friday afternoon gathering. They said she will be the partner needed in Washington to help restore the economy. Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, as well as Sheriff Carl DuBois, joined the gathering.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino endorsed Hayworth on Thursday. Both he and Diana have been aggressive in seeking to keep their respective county governments on a sound fiscal footing.

As for Hall, he’s with former President Bill Clinton tonight.

Democratic Rep. John Hall gained 4 points in his race against Republican challenger Nan Hayworth over the past two weeks, but the race for the Hudson Valley’s 19th Congressional District seat remains a dead heat.

A new Siena Research Institute poll released this morning shows Hall leading Hayworth 47 percent to 46 percent, well within the poll’s 3.8 percentage-point margin of error.

Hayworth led Hall 46 percent to 43 percent in a Siena poll earlier this month.
Both polls confirm political handicappers’ assessments that the race is tossup.

Republicans hope to pick up as many as eight House seats in New York in their quest to regain majority control of the House. They need to gain at least 39 seats nationwide to do that.

“This has the potential to be one of the closest races in the nation and might not be decided till very late next Tuesday — or maybe even later than that,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.

Ninety-three percent of likely voters said they’re at least fairly certain whom they’ll vote for, leaving only a small segment of the electorate undecided.

Hall leads among independent voters 48 percent to 47 percent, according to the telephone survey of 651 likely  voters conducted Saturday through Tuesday.  Hayworth had led 46 percent to 39 percent among indepdendent voters in the earlier poll.

Hayworth leads among independent voters 46 percent to 39 percent, according to the telephone survey of 651 likely voters conducted Saturday through Tuesday.

Greenberg said Hall’s gains over the last two weeks mostly came from independent voters.

“Hall continues to have a high single-digit lead in Rockland and Westchester counties,’’ Greenberg said. “Hayworth continues to lead in Orange County, although the lead is down to seven points from 21 points. And the battleground counties of Dutchess and Putnam continue to divide their votes nearly evenly.’’

Hall is focusing on Orange County this Saturday, with a public rally at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall in Harriman that will feature former President Bill Clinton and musician Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult.

Meanwhile, Hayworth has tapped into voter dissatisfaction that has driven the growth of the tea party movement.

Likely voters who have a favorable opinion of the tea party prefer Hayworth over Hall 84 percent to 12 percent. But voters in the district are deeply divided over the tea party, which had a 44 percent favorable 46 percent unfavorable rating in the new poll.

By two-to-one, 62 percent to 31 percent, likely voters think the country is on the wrong track.
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Republican Chris Gibson has erased the 17-point deficit he held in mid-September and now leads freshman Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy by 9 points in the race the upper Hudson Valley’s 20th Congressional District seat, according to a Siena Research Institute poll released this morning.
Gibson’s 51 to 42 percent lead among likely voters in the Siena poll validates a private poll his campaign released last week showing him with a small lead over Murphy.
The 20th CD race has long been considered one of the key contests for Republicans in their effort to pick up at least 39 seats nationwide to regain majority control of the House. Up to eight House seats in New York are considered by Republicans as possible pickups.
Former President Bill Clinton plans to campaign with Murphy Monday as part of the final get-out-the-vote drive the day before the election.
Clinton also plans to attend a rally Friday evening in Utica for embattled Democratic Rep. Mike Arcuri, who is facing a strong challenge from construction company owner Richard Hanna.
And on Saturday Clinton will travel to an electrical workers union hall in Harriman to join Democratic Rep. John Hall of Dover, who is being challenged by Republican Nan Hayworth, an ophthalmologist from northern Westchester County.
Siena’s previous poll of likely voters in the 20th district – which stretches from Lake Placid south to part of Dutchess County – found the incumbent Democrat with a commanding 54 percent to 37 percent lead.
Murphy, a venture capital investor from Glens Falls, won a special election for the seat by only 726 votes in March of last year after the seat was vacated by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand’s appointment to the Senate.
However, last month’s Siena poll also found 65 percent of likely voters didn’t know Gibson, a retired Army colonel from Kinderhook who is the Republican challenger. That’s changed over the last four weeks with relentless advertising by both campaigns as well as outside advocacy groups.
Only 24 percent of likely voters in the new poll indicated they didn’t have an opinion of Gibson. And a plurality of 46 percent viewed him favorably compared to 30 percent who held an unfavorable opinion.
Gillibrand remains popular in the district, with a 61 percent to 34 percent, favorable-unfavorable rating, virtually unchanged from last month.
But President Barack Obama’s favorability rating has plummeted 10 points, from 51 to 41 percent, over the last month among like voters in the district.
The Siena survey of 676 likely voters was conducted Saturday through Monday and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Former President Bill Clinton will headline a rally over in Orange County Saturday evening for Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. Hall is seeking a third term and is facing a challenge from Dr. Nan Hayworth, a retired ophthalmologist from Mount Kisco. The nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report has the race as a toss-up.

John Hall Welcomes President Bill Clinton for:
Moving The Hudson Valley Forward Rally

IBEW Local 363
67 Commerce Drive South
Harriman, NY 10926

Beacon, NY – Former President Bill Clinton will visit the Hudson Valley to rally supporters for Rep. John Hall SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 at 7:30pm at the IBEW Local 363, 67 Commerce Drive South.  President Clinton will speak to supporters about why Rep. John Hall is the right choice to represent them and highlight the choice voters have in this election.

WHO:   U.S. Rep. John Hall, President Bill Clinton and musical guests.

WHAT:   Moving The Hudson Valley Forward Rally for John Hall supporters featuring President Bill Clinton.

WHERE:  IBEW Local 363, 67 Commerce Drive South, Harriman, NY 10926

WHEN:   SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 at 7:30pm

It’s the second appearance Clinton is making this election season on behalf of Hall. He appeared last month at a fundraiser for the congressman.

Former President Bill Clinton underwent heart surgery in Manhattan earlier today at the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital, according to a spokesman.

Clinton  ”underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries,’’ spokesman Douglas Band said in a statement.

The former president and Chappaqua resident underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004.

His latest surgery came after he complained of chest discomfort and  visited his cardiologist.

“President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti’s relief and long-term recovery efforts,’’ Band stated.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, are ending a rollercoaster year by joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Times Square to help lower the New Year’s Eve ball.

The former first couple will join Bloomberg tomorrow night in Times Square to lead revelers in the final 60 second countdown, and push the ceremonial button that lowers the ball.

The Clintons look back at a wild 12 months. Last New Year’s Eve, they were in Iowa as Sen. Clinton campaigned for the Democratic caucus, which she eventually lost to Barack Obama. She is now on her way to become his secretary of state.

Secretary of State nominee and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton is continuing her efforts to retire her debt from her presidential campaign. The latest event is “Hillary Live! A Conversation with Senator Hillary Clinton” set for Monday Dec. 15 at Manhattan Center Studios in New York City.

Bill Clinton is listed as a “special guest,” and the host is “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrera. Tickets range from $50 for general admission (“limited availability”) to $1,000 for a VIP seat and backstage photo with the guest of honor.

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign Web site has a statement from President Clinton on her nomination as secretary of state:

“As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be secretary of state and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud.

“She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America’s image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities.

“She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.

“In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I’ve known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served.”