A Republican strategist from Cornwall-on-Hudson may soon make the leap from consultant to candidate to take on the third most powerful Democrat in the U.S. Senate.
Jay Townsend, who has guided Republican office-seekers at all levels of government for years, says he’s “looking very, very hard” at challenging Sen. Charles Schumer in November, and he expects to announce his decision within three weeks.
So far, no one else has stepped forward to fight Schumer for the seat he has held since 1998, even though his approval rating dipped to 47 percent in January (the latest poll has it at 51 percent) and Republicans everywhere are itching to exploit the nation’s anti-incumbent mood.
CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow was viewed as a potential Republican challenger but hasn’t entered the race.
Schumer’s campaign account has no doubt scared off competition: as of the end of 2009, Schumer – a fundraising juggernaut – had a daunting $19.4 million in his coffers.
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