Bagels and Ballots – Monday
Dressed to … Distress: The Atlantic found photographs of Ohio Republican house candidate Rich Iott in Nazi Uniform. His campaign maintains his affiliation is purely historical — it was for a group that reenacts SS battles — but experts disagree. Either way, not a great calling card for Jewish voters. (BBC)
Republican Jewish Push: Speaking of the Jewish vote, with three weeks left to the election, the Republican Jewish Committee announced it was buying $1 million in advertisements on behalf of eight congressional candidates. (MizVote)
Oy, Paladino: On Sunday, New York’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino made a campaign stop in ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn, where he said he opposes gay marriage and made this much-circulated comment: “I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option.” Since then, he hasn’t apologized for his comments, but clarified by saying that he would not discriminate against hiring gays. His opponent Andrew Cuomo’s campaign circulated a statement condemning Paladino’s remarks: “Mr. Paladino’s statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality. These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and is unfit to represent New York.” (Associated Press)
Kirk’s Bank Bonanza: Illinois Democratic Senatorial candidate Alexi Giannoulias appeared on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, and gave a familiar-sounding response to yet another question about his family-owned bank’s lending to organized crime bosses: “I didn’t know the extent of their activity,” he said. And neither does his opponent Mark Kirk, but he does know that it’ll be good campaign fuel — which he tried to maximize in a memo (PDF) and their debate last night. (Chicago Sun-Times)
2012: NJ? A presidential straw poll at the Virginia Tea Party Patriots convention gave New Jersey Governor Chris Christie a slight edge over Sarah Palin. So far, Christie has said he has no intention to run. (NJ.com)
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