Peter King Pulls Another No-Show

Congressman Peter King is not going to run for the Senate. And it's all the fault of Caroline Kennedy.

After an endless will-he-won't-he dance, King has announced that he won't challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand next year. He would have made the race, he said "if Caroline Kennedy were the Democratic candidate. Her candidacy would have generated the media coverage and financial contributions necessary for me to run a competitive race."

But, as we all know, Kennedy took herself out of the running for the appointment to fill Hillary Clinton's empty seat. In the process, she made it impossible for Peter King to fulfill his long-standing dream of becoming a senator.

Make sense to you?

Wait, there's more.

"Senator Gillibrand generates neither strong support nor opposition. This makes it virtually impossible for me to raise the campaign funds I would need," King said, going on to cite the Democratic registration advantage, Democratic money, etc. etc.

This is a fascinating argument. Apparently Sen. Gillibrand, the sly fox, has been pursuing the super-sophisticated political strategy of being boring. If only she'd been better, a real junior superstar. Then of course King would be right in there, punching. But her averageness has proven too powerful to overcome.

Peter King is perhaps the Republican elected official with the highest name recognition in the New York City area right now - if you believe, along with the rest of the world, that Michael Bloomberg is about as Republican as Nancy Pelosi. He has been a Congressman from Long Island since 1993. He gets quoted in news stories all the time, because he is extremely quotable. (Remember his "lowlife" diatribe during the Michael Jackson mourning period?)

As a Senate candidate, King would have had some real strengths. He has strong ties with organized labor and a good record of working with Democrats when the mood strikes him. He is Irish in a state that loves ethnicity, particularly Catholic ethnicity, in its politicians. And if ever a party needed a decent vote-getter on its statewide ticket, it would be the Republicans in 2010.

But King is a political tease. He's always talking about running for something bigger, then backs off when it's time to really take the plunge.

If he was really waiting for a superstar who'd draw big donations, there was Hillary Clinton in 2000. (When Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the Senate race, King claimed he wanted in, then withdrew saying he didn't want to cause divisions within his party.) Or Hillary Clinton in 2006. (King said that while he disagreed with her on most issues, he liked her as a person.)

King, who also dropped hints that he might run for governor in 2010, now says that he's not going anywhere. He's undoubtedly waiting for that ideal opponent, a superstar who's also both beatable and unlikable.
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Comments

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Again, another failed strategy of "it's not about me, it's about my competitor , never mid my shady past look at theirs!"

[glorialovelace]

What Senator Gillibrand needs to do is to hire male hookers from out of state, or else have an affair with the publisher of the New York Times, or hire an illegal nanny for her boys.

Then she won't be so "boring."

[oldgeek1]

Peter King has gone as far as he can.
I will be lucky if he is re-elected.
His act has worn thin and there are no new ticket takers.

[wonketteRAWKS]

Anyone who lives around the NY area knows King is all bark and no bite. He needs to retire from politics.

[UnknownSolider]

Agreed

[hjo4]

The public is waiting to support his opponent. His nasty comments that he went on a campaign with, proved that he has no business representing anyone. He doesn't believe in the basic tenants of the law like "guilty until proven innocent". He insist the late Michael Jackson was a convicted pedophile.

[nini516]

It was obviously ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!

[x4faith]

So in other words you had nothing to offer...PE­RIOD!

[RevRick]

I disagree with your assertion that King “has strong ties with organized labor”. I am not a constituent of King’s but the majority of my union’s local live in King’s district.

The fact is for the majority of the time that King has been in Congress the House has been in Republican hands. This has allowed King to play the “Yes, but” game with labor. Yes I support “fill in the blank” and will vote for it, the unspoken ‘but’ is the leadership will make sure it will never come up for a vote.

Now that he can no longer hide behind friendly house leaders he is being called out.

A perfect example is the Employee Free Choice Act.

http://libn.com/politbureau/2009/04/27/unions-to-rep-king-youre-a-turncoat/

[mendelcrosses]

Atleast he is taking Truman's word seriously. If you cant stand the heat,.....­.

[mendelcrosses]

Mr Peter Palin is dropping out because if he was to lie and distort against Sen Gillibrand,the media would ignore it as no one will even recognise who they are talking about.

[babyboomerorig]

This is good news from Peter King.

I don't trust him. Don't have a valid reason, just gut instinct.

[wtheman]

He's not Irish. He's american. where was he born in Ireland>

[dcarn2]

He also insults my Irish heritage!

[banja]

the guy is such a motor mouth, no discipline. he would gaffe himself to oblivion.

[Zen0469]

Just think of it this way Mr. King, we are so much better off without you. There, hope that eased your mind about not running for the senate. Congratulate Sen. Gillibrand on what a good job she is doing. She'll appreciate your thoughtfulness.

[Cycadeoidea]

King's probably working on a deal for a reality show, or a book.

[floridafun]

if he gets a deal with sarag he better make sure he has a written confirmation from meg!

[floridafun]

oops sorry i spelled sarah wrong...pe­sky keyboard ;-)