Tasini struggles for recognition (interesting comparisons to Lamont and $)

[oberliner]

NEW YORK - Anti-war Democrat Jonathan Tasini's longshot bid to oust New York Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton should be riding a crest of momentum now.

Just weeks ago in nearby Connecticut, another anti-war upstart, Ned Lamont, stunned the political world, defeating Sen.
Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary. Flush with victory, liberal activists and bloggers who helped drive Lamont's candidacy sought out other prey.

But with less than three weeks to New York's Sept. 12 primary, Tasini remains unknown to most Democratic voters and overpowered by Clinton's celebrity and vast fundraising edge. Bloggers have remained largely on the sidelines, choosing to wage their anti-war insurgency elsewhere.

"The sole difference between myself and Ned Lamont is $4 million," Tasini said in an interview, referring to the personal fortune Lamont, a wealthy businessman, spent to defeat Lieberman. "It's not a criticism of Ned at all, but it's a reflection of how much money has corrupted our political system."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060825/ap_on_el_se/clinton_s_challenger_1

[Kagemusha]

1. Um Hillary has kept her head down. Lieb has not.

Hillary hasn't waged a frontal assault on dissenters in her own party. Lieb has. Jihadists. Fanatics. Insurgents. That's what Lieb calls those supporting Lamont against him.

Maybe Tasini thinks the only difference between himself and Ned Lamont is $4 million, but the opponents are quite a bit different.

[newburgh]

2. On the up side for Tasini, if everyone thinks Clinton can't lose

why would they show up at the polls for a primary- when they also may not even know there is one? This one is not going to have the large turnout the CT one did just for that reason. More of a chance of a stronger showing by default for those driven to the polls by the Iraq situation vs. those who support the shoe-in.