My only question is whether Higgins could build a statewide following to get re-elected. If anyone from upstate or WNY could, it is he.

I have to disagree. As much as I dislike Brian Higgins, I wouldn’t be bothered by him being appointed to the Senate – as I have previously stated — but for different reasons than Buffalo Pundit.  But, should he be appointed, he’ll have less than two years before having to run for the position again in a special election. And as an appointee, that election will certainly attract primary challengers… and I don’t think Higgins will have the time or the clout to walk away with the party nomination for the U.S. Senate.

UPDATE: Now the New York Times is saying she will accept…

UPDATE: Politico:

Breaking: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) plans to accept an offer of secretary of State from President-elect Obama and resign from the Senate, a top Clinton adviser said. An announcement is expected shortly after Thanksgiving, officials said. “She knew this was the right thing to do but just needed to sit with it for a bit to make sure,” the adviser said.

I still say that this a bad move for Hillary… and Comrade Obama.

Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

While Clinton refused to address the speculation Friday during an appearance in suburban Albany, the game of political dominoes is already under way. Some news outlets are mentioning Mayor Byron W. Brown as a potential candidate, and the mayor said Friday he would consider an appointment but is “focused” on his current job.

Byron Brown? Is that a joke? I have yet to meet anyone who thinks he’s been a good mayor for Buffalo, why would Governor Paterson pick someone as incompetent and corrupt as Mayor Byron Brown?

For what it is worth, Buffalo Pundit is on board the Brian Higgins train. And Robert Harding of the Albany Project thinks the “change we need” is another damn Kennedy.

Of course she’s running in the 26h District.. so … woops.

The left-wing Buffalo Pundit was able to make it to the event, and decided to do a bit of preemptive damage control for Alice in Wonderland:

At one point, Kryzan slipped and said “25th” when she meant “26th” district. A dopey misstatement, but a misstatement nonetheless, and I have no doubt that the Republicans will try to make some hay with it about Kryzan not knowing what district she’s running in.

Uh huh… and had had Chris Lee made the the same mistake does anyone doubt that we’d have seen some picture of Lee with some witty “FAIL” caption on it?

While I am sure at this point Alice has managed to memorize what district she lives in, it serves as a reminder that Alice doesn’t really have much knowledge about the local issues.

Of course, now that Dennis Delano is running for the State Senate as a Republican and Buffalo Pundit is a Democrat his feelings about the Buffalo Hero have soured. Yesterday Buffalo Pundit questioned Delano’s role in exonerating Capozzi and DeJac:

Dennis Delano may have a public image of being a mavericky hero cop, but some of his colleagues are challenging that perception, wondering where he gets off taking all the credit for something that was not only done by a team of people, but also a very long time in coming.

Today he also mocked Delano as “the guy running against Stachowski” who is “taking all the credit for something a lot of people had a hand in doing.”

I guess it isn’t too surprising. Buffalo Pundit has justified supporting unqualified candidates over career politicians just for being career politicians. Yet now he attacks the credibility of a genuine hero (who is a Republican) while trumping up Bill Stachowski, a career politician (who is a Democrat).

UPDATE: Looks like I struck a nerve…
 

When asked about making a prediction last night I said continually “Logic would be on the side of Powers but… I don’t know.” He had money, he had biography but most importantly he had the support of the local Democratic Party establishment and the bloggers. In terms of building up manpower, he should have won, they should have turned out, the phone banking should have worked, the money should have been spent on important resources. None of it panned out.

There’s a lot more worth reading.

The Albany Project notes that the DCCC has made Alice Kryzan their sloppy seconds:

This didn’t take long.

The DCCC announced today that Alice Kryzan has been immediately named to the “Red to Blue” list. 

Buffalo 14228 criticizes left-wing blogs that were drawn to Powers for being an Iraq War veteran, while ignoring his thin resumé.

She was also routinely hammered by alleged progressive political blogs like Alan Bedenko’s “The Buffalo Pundit” and Robert Harding of “The Albany Project.” Each fell in love with the “Iraq War veteran label” discounting the resume.

Scott Leffler says if Powers doesn’t complete drop out of the race, it be for spite.

If he proceeds in any manner other than dropping out, it will simply be out of spite, because everyone knows you don’t win a congressional election from the Working Families Party line … and he would simply be siphoning off votes from Alice Kryzan – assuring a Chris Lee victory.

Cincinnatus at Monroe Rising writes a letter to the Democratic leadership in the 26th District.

I can only imagine how you folks feel. Jon Powers spent over a year running for office, raised over a million dollars, had the support of all of the “progressive” bloggers and lost to a lady none of you know.

He goes on to give them some free advice.

Buffalo Pundit says Kryzan’s game winning shot came with an assist from Powers and Davis.

Because Powers and Davis spent so much time bashing each other, 2/3 of Kryzan’s job was done for her without her having to spend a dime. She needed one thing to stand out, and the “boys, take it somewhere else” ad was just the ticket.

And I see Chris Lee winning in November.