When some senior Democrats worried Scozzafava might be wavering about the endorsement, according to another account, the White House got Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in the state, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to place calls to the assemblywoman on Saturday evening to coax her into delivering it. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who had been in touch with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Israel, also weighed in.
Two senior Democrats with ties to the White House praised Cuomo’s role in the operation, saying they were confident Scozzafava was on board after learning that she told Cuomo: “You’re going to be the next governor of New York.”
Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.
June O’Neill, until earlier this year the New York Democratic Party chairwoman, played an even more important role in courting Scozzafava, according to one New York official, because they “go to the same social events — church bingo night and the high school dance.”
The Latest

Biden to Reopen Obamacare Marketplaces for Special COVID Enrollment Period
Biden plans to bolster outreach and enrollment programs as well as scrap changes to Medicare made by the Trump administration.

White House Chief of Staff Defends Teachers Unions Refusing to Return to School
Klain advocated for President Biden's plan for reopening schools in 100 days and backed teachers' objections to teaching in-person.

Biden’s Inauguration Speech Was a Lot Like Trump’s
Biden’s scaremongering imagery has been memory-holed together with Trump’s promises of unity and healing.

Nuking the Filibuster: Bad for the Senate, Worse for America
And worst of all for the Left.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 and the American Film Institute 11
Race-baiting and wokism from top to bottom, and not one good film on the list.

Getting State and Local Aid Right
Congress should use historical data, not future projections, to determine state and local assistance.