Here's part of an invitation for an fund-raiser event tonight in support of Sheldon Silver, who is facing spirited primary challenges community organizer (hiss!) Paul Newell and attorney Luke Henry.

Newell outpaced Silver in fund-raising for this most recent filing period, but Silver's overall warchest is still much bigger.

Here’s a mailer going out to voters in Sheldon Silver’s district highlighting his bungled responses to two alleged sexual assaults committed by one of his top aides at the time, Michael Boxley. Boxley was indicted in the second case.

The mailer includes excerpts from news articles highlighting the 2001 and 2003 incidents, and a letter written by the first victim, Elizabeth Crothers, who is supporting Paul Newell, another candidate in the race.

Referring to the second incident, Crothers wrote, “This was a rape Sheldon Silver could have prevented, but--for the sake of his own political convenience--he did not.”

She goes on, “When I was powerless and alone, Sheldon Silver sat silent.  read more »

Here's some non-Minnesota news: Sheldon Silver has been out-paced in fund-raising by one of his Democratic primary challengers, Paul Newell, a community activist.

In the pre-primary filing report (which candidates are required to file 11 days before the primary), Newell raised $40,015. In that same time period, Silver raised $19,575.44. Attorney Luke Henry raised only $510.

But that’s just a snapshot of what’s going on in the race. Here’s the bigger picture: overall, Silver has on hand $2,941,159.64, Newell has $37,729.78 and Henry has $9,086.34.

Also worth noting: Newell is buying ads on FaceBook, and Google.

Here's the Assembly speaker on the floor of the convention last night, looking decidedly more animated than usual.

With The Times giving details today on the changes being considered to the Santiago Calatrava-designed PATH hub, we caught up with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver out at the Democratic National Convention in Denver to get his reaction to the news that the Port Authority may put columns in the signature main hall of the station, which was to be open.

Mr. Silver did not take a firm position either way, but signaled openness to scaling back the aesthetics of the planned iconic station.

"Obviously, the functional purpose of it is still important, and we ought to watch that we get what's going on there as quickly as possible, get it moving," he said.  read more »

David Paterson had only been at the podium for a few moments when the cheers faded and a woman yelled out, “We love you David!”

Paterson replied, “Once again, my past is catching up with me,” likely a reference to the extramarital affairs he's admitted to having, although moments later he said he thought his mother was in the audience.

Paterson emphasized the importance of recognizing Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments.

The governor recalled how his father, who ran for lieutenant governor in the 1970s, was treated.

“They told him he was an asset on that ticket," Paterson said. "When they got to the general election, they never even mentioned his name in the paid television campaign ads.  read more »

Here’s Paul Newell, the Democratic challenger who Assembly Speaker Sheldon conveniently can’t remember.

Newell is in Denver (he's an Obama delegate) and has a message about Silver's apparent amnesia.

Something else Silver might be interested in: Newell is being followed by a guy with a camera, Justin Sullivan, who told me he's making an independent documentary about the race.

Here's Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver earlier this afternoon during David Paterson's convention speech, during which the governor praised Barack Obama as the best candidate for disabled Americans and offered sharp criticism of John McCain.

“Wages are declining while inflation is at a 17-year high,” Paterson said, adding that the “promise of America has also diminished for people with disabilities.”

“Which of the candidates will make the change that will restore the promise of America? Well, let see. Is it John McCain?” he asked. After the crowd shouted, “No!,” Paterson said, “No? I’m shocked.” He went on, “In 2007, John McCain voted with the administration 95 percent of the time.  read more »

DENVER—I chatted with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on the floor of the convention center just after David Paterson's speech, which he said he liked.

When I asked whether Paterson should have mentioned Hillary Clinton, Silver said, “Hillary will have, you know, her spotlight tonight.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is having a closed-door reception for New York State Assembly members at (where else?) the East Side Kosher Deli in Denver.

“Even the name sounds like we never left home,” said one New Yorker.