GOP Will Target Oppenheimer, Despite Democratic Enrollment Advantage
Republicans keep quiet on their candidate to challenge longest-serving Senate Democrat
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:57:00
Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Rockland), longest-serving Democrat in the State Senate, is preparing for her 13th bid for re-election. With a generally high approval rating in her district and a good working relationship with the Republican majority, she said she is looking forward to kicking off her campaign in mid-May.
But in an election year as unpredictable as 2008 is already turning out to be, she has found herself the unexpected target of Republicans eager to maintain and expand their majority in the Senate. The state GOP is planning a competitive race in her district, although the party has yet to reveal its challenger.
“We’re making the case that the votes that she’s taking and what she’s delivering, or more accurately failing to deliver, are not the best thing for the constituents in that district,” said Matt Walter, a spokesperson for the New York GOP.
Last year, Senate Republicans unveiled www.NYinJeopardy.com, a website that cheekily derided Oppenheimer’s record on taxes, women’s health and public safety. Republicans plan to make her and nine other Senate Democrats the focus of a media and advertising campaign throughout the year.
And the party has settled on an opponent for Oppenheimer, though insiders are careful to reveal nothing more than that their candidate is a woman.
As a long-standing member of the minority, Oppenheimer has been known to reach across party lines and work with Republicans to pass legislation. But that will do nothing to exempt her from the GOP efforts come November, Walter said.
“When it’s time to govern, you work together to get things accomplished for people across the state,” he said. “But in an election, you’re running candidates and you run the one you think would most effectively represent the needs of the people. And in that district we think a Republican would be more closely aligned with the voters.”
Oppenheimer has not faced a significant Republican challenge in such a long time that she has neglected to rack up the legislative victories that would make her look competitive, charge Republican operatives.
But Oppenheimer’s roots in the district run deep, said Jeff Binder, a consultant for the Westchester-based Strategic Political Group. And that may make her a formidable opponent, he said.
“Structurally, it would be next to impossible to defeat her,” Binder said. “She gets a lot of crossover support from Republicans.”
Oppenheimer has a good working relationship with Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer), which may also protect her from an all-out Republican attack, Binder predicted.
“She’s savvy enough to maintain good relations with the Democratic Party,” Binder said, “but also when she gets to Albany, she tries to get things accomplished.”
Binder added, “She’s not a partisan bomb thrower.”
That has led some people to speculate that the Republicans may this year try to woo her to their conference in an effort to bolster their slim majority. Oppenheimer and GOP operatives both denied that any discussions had taken place, or that there was any chance the senator would change parties.
Even some Westchester Republicans believe that Oppenheimer would be difficult to unseat this November, especially considering that Democratic turnout is expected to be high due to the presidential race.
Paul Noto, the former Republican mayor of Mamaroneck, lost his bid to unseat Oppenheimer in 1990. He said Republicans would be unwise to spend too much money and resources to challenge her this year.
“She’s been in office for more than 20 years,” said Noto, now an estate lawyer. “She’ll eventually retire, and when it’s an open seat they’ll have a better shot.”
In her own race, Oppenheimer said she will attempt to steer clear of the bitter politics surrounding the fight for the majority. Instead, she said she will stress her bipartisan appeal and her record in education and the environment.
“Most Republicans who do vote for me feel that I do try hard to serve my constituents,” she said. “I try to analyze each vote I take on the facts of the issue rather than on political considerations.”
Oppenheimer said there was an attempt in the distant past to persuade her to join the GOP, but she declined out of respect for her parents, who were lifelong Democrats.
“Oh, years ago they were attempting to tempt me,” she said, laughing. “But my parents would turn over in their grave!”
But in an election year as unpredictable as 2008 is already turning out to be, she has found herself the unexpected target of Republicans eager to maintain and expand their majority in the Senate. The state GOP is planning a competitive race in her district, although the party has yet to reveal its challenger.
“We’re making the case that the votes that she’s taking and what she’s delivering, or more accurately failing to deliver, are not the best thing for the constituents in that district,” said Matt Walter, a spokesperson for the New York GOP.
Last year, Senate Republicans unveiled www.NYinJeopardy.com, a website that cheekily derided Oppenheimer’s record on taxes, women’s health and public safety. Republicans plan to make her and nine other Senate Democrats the focus of a media and advertising campaign throughout the year.
And the party has settled on an opponent for Oppenheimer, though insiders are careful to reveal nothing more than that their candidate is a woman.
As a long-standing member of the minority, Oppenheimer has been known to reach across party lines and work with Republicans to pass legislation. But that will do nothing to exempt her from the GOP efforts come November, Walter said.
“When it’s time to govern, you work together to get things accomplished for people across the state,” he said. “But in an election, you’re running candidates and you run the one you think would most effectively represent the needs of the people. And in that district we think a Republican would be more closely aligned with the voters.”
Oppenheimer has not faced a significant Republican challenge in such a long time that she has neglected to rack up the legislative victories that would make her look competitive, charge Republican operatives.
But Oppenheimer’s roots in the district run deep, said Jeff Binder, a consultant for the Westchester-based Strategic Political Group. And that may make her a formidable opponent, he said.
“Structurally, it would be next to impossible to defeat her,” Binder said. “She gets a lot of crossover support from Republicans.”
Oppenheimer has a good working relationship with Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer), which may also protect her from an all-out Republican attack, Binder predicted.
“She’s savvy enough to maintain good relations with the Democratic Party,” Binder said, “but also when she gets to Albany, she tries to get things accomplished.”
Binder added, “She’s not a partisan bomb thrower.”
That has led some people to speculate that the Republicans may this year try to woo her to their conference in an effort to bolster their slim majority. Oppenheimer and GOP operatives both denied that any discussions had taken place, or that there was any chance the senator would change parties.
Even some Westchester Republicans believe that Oppenheimer would be difficult to unseat this November, especially considering that Democratic turnout is expected to be high due to the presidential race.
Paul Noto, the former Republican mayor of Mamaroneck, lost his bid to unseat Oppenheimer in 1990. He said Republicans would be unwise to spend too much money and resources to challenge her this year.
“She’s been in office for more than 20 years,” said Noto, now an estate lawyer. “She’ll eventually retire, and when it’s an open seat they’ll have a better shot.”
In her own race, Oppenheimer said she will attempt to steer clear of the bitter politics surrounding the fight for the majority. Instead, she said she will stress her bipartisan appeal and her record in education and the environment.
“Most Republicans who do vote for me feel that I do try hard to serve my constituents,” she said. “I try to analyze each vote I take on the facts of the issue rather than on political considerations.”
Oppenheimer said there was an attempt in the distant past to persuade her to join the GOP, but she declined out of respect for her parents, who were lifelong Democrats.
“Oh, years ago they were attempting to tempt me,” she said, laughing. “But my parents would turn over in their grave!”
