"2010~Arcuri to face third party challenge" Blue dog voting no on HRC

[Cha]

New York's Working Families Party, which has outsized influence in state politics and its own ballot line, is actively recruiting a candidate to run against Upstate Rep. Mike Arcuri, who says he'll vote against health care legislation.

"If Rep. Arcuri sides with the insurance companies against the middle-class and working-class voters of his district, they'll go elsewhere, and we are in active conversation with several people who we think would make excellent third-line challengers in this race," WFP executive director Dan Cantor told me.

The party prides itself on not playing the spoiler, but "this is a fault-line moment," Cantor said. "This is the most important vote he will cast in his career in Congress."

Arcuri won his seat by nearly 10,000 votes, and won more than 9,000 of them on the Working Families line, so just denying him the line — much less running a serious challenge — could cost him his seat.

And the challenge will draw national attention.

"Over 8000 MoveOn members are asking the same question today: If Mike Arcuri wasn't willing to stand with them on this historic vote, can the depend on him to represent him in the future. Seems like the answer is no," said MoveOn communications director Ilyse Hogue.

Greg Sargent reports that SEIU will also support a challenger.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34693.html

Thanks to the heads up from Steve Benen on my blue dog.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[DFLforever]

1. We can kiss Arcuri goodbye, then

Do you know the back story on his vote, Cha?

Who is supporting him on this..the Repubs in his Repub district?

[Cha]

3. I know a little bit of the back story that

I've been piecing together from my friends and customers at work and emails from Mtch Stewart of OFA.

"When he originally voted for the the Health Care Reform Bill..the Observer Dispatch excoriated him"..being the mediawhore paper that they are..oh, and I got this from David Plouffe today..

"Your representative, Rep. Michael Arcuri, supported reform last fall, but has faced vicious attacks from insurance lobbyists desperate to block change. We must show that the voters back home still strongly support reform. Please call to say "we'll stand with you if you fight for health reform."

So, as a customer said.."I like the guy..he's a real people person but he turned chicken on this".

[DFLforever]

4. Thanks, Cha.

I'm getting the picture.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Hope the loser loses.

Loser.

[angee_is_mad]

5. Goodbye Sucker!!!!!

and don't let the door hit you on the way out!