After Linda Ackerman loses on Tuesday, will she endorse the Democrat in a run-off?
The Republicans in New York lost a House seat recently when Dierdre Scozzafava, a liberal Republican, withdrew from a special election and endorsed the Democrat, Bill Owens, who went on to beat a conservative candidate named Doug Hoffman.
Here in Orange County, the voters in the 72nd Assembly District will be voting on Tuesday in a race that got ugly quickly, as carpetbagger Linda Ackerman went nasty on Supervisor Chris Norby. It may well be that the top vote-getter will be Democratic candidate John MacMurray. But will he win outright, or will he end up in a run-off with Norby?
MacMurray barely lost to the former incumbent, drippy Mike Duvall. I don’t think he can win outright, but I could see him forcing a run-off. The question then will be whether or not Ackerman will then endorse MacMurray rather than support Norby, who is hated by both Ackerman and her husband, Dick.
I think Ackerman would seriously consider backing MacMurray. She would then become Orange County’s Dierdre Scozzafava.
Voters should keep this in mind on Tuesday and avoid such a mess by voting for Norby.
I was just feeling bemused by the suggestion the Ackerwoman could do something as gutsy, independent and unpredictable as endorse a Democrat (and also imagining the yawn of indifference that would spread across Republican households in the district if she did) when I get gobsmacked in the last line by one of those patented Pedroza leaps. Just because you think that could conceivably happen, folks should change their votes?
If nobody gets the 50% Tuesday that will make for a much more interesting and focused contest between Norby and MacMurray. I hope there could be a debate or two. Including questions on the Fairgrounds sale.
After all this time, do you honestly have no idea how special elections work, Art? McMurray can’t “force a run-off.” First of all, there is no run-off. There’s a primary and a general election. ANd McMurray will be in the January general by virtue of being the only Democrat on the ballot, whether he wins 1 vote or 10,000 votes.
Unless Norby wins 50 plus 1 on Tuesday. If you think there is even the remotest possibility McMurray can win, you are on crack.
#2,
Exactly. If MacMurray gets enough votes and Norby fails to win 50 plus 1 on Tuesday, we are headed for a run-off. And I suspect that Linda Ackerman will endorse MacMurray.
So rather than allow Ackerman to become Orange County’s Scozzafava, I suggest you vote for Norby.
Hey Vern,
A January 12 election will include THREE candidates, not two, if no one gets 50% today. We will be in for some great debates between the Green, Republican, and Democrat, and you can bet the OC Fairgrounds issue will come up (thanks for your great posts on the subject).
Hey Matt, thanks for the nice words, and I really wish the best for our friend Jane; I hope there’s some day when the Greens and Dems can stand an equal chance of tromping the Rethugs. (Oh wait, I’m supposed to be bipartisan-friendly while I lead on the Fair issue.)
Sad thing you might not realize though. If someone wins this special election today they can help stop the sale. But by Jan. 12 it will be too late.