Poughkeepsie Journal

John Sweeney's wife briefly discussed the incident in her home which led her to call 911. And Liz has the script for the new ad she's doing [added].

A Republican congressional candidate in the neighboring upstate district subsequently endorsed Sweeney's Democratic opponent, calling it an "act of conscience." That other Republican, Warren Redlich, went on to say Sweeney is "what's wrong with Washington."

Hillary Clinton said John Kerry's "botched joke" about students who don't study getting "stuck" in Iraq was inappropriate.

Some of those stuck soldiers offer their own response.

Ben explains that Freddy Ferrer joining a mostly-Republican consulting firm means "Freddy is showing about as much loyalty to his party that many of its prominent figures showed him."

Eliot Spitzer's campaign gave $250,000 to the Working Families Party.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver - who doesn't have a race, does he? - received $669,116 in contributions.

Sue Kelley tries making an issue of John Hall's stock portfolio.

Early and Often notes that Alan Hevesi isn't the only one with chauffeur problems.  read more »

And pictured above is the guy driving Chris Callaghan's Tax-Less Express, pictured -- strangely enough -- between two cars from Hillary Clinton's motorcade outside the Poughkeepsie Journal.

-- Azi Paybarah

Pictured here is the guy driving Chris Callaghan's Tax-Less Express, standing in between two cars that make up part of Hillary Clinton's motorcade. They were parked outside the Poughkeepsie Journal today where she was having an endorsement meeting and Callaghan's bus happened to be passing by.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

The New York Times enthusiastically endorses Eliot Spitzer for governor, begrudgingly endorses Andrew Cuomo for attorney general, and backs Dave Mejias and John Hall for congress.

Ben notes Vito Fossella's re-election race gets more interesting.

In the comptroller's race, The Poughkeepsie Journal endorses challenger Chris Callaghan, and writes:

"In light of all the scandals and ethical lapses in our political systems, voters should give Callaghan a chance to serve, even though Hevesi is the more qualified candidate."

As for Hillary's debate this morning with John Spencer: a surprising note. John Spencer said he thought Hillary would be a "tremendous" candidate for president. He won't vote for her, but tremendous.

The Observer's Choire Sicha went down to watch the debate live and emails to say:

"At the ABC studios on 67th and Columbus, Bill came to pick Hillary after work. aww! They went down the line of supporters together, then hopped in the waiting van and headed south past Lincoln Center."

-- Azi Paybarah

In an effort to prove Alan Hevesi is not actually hiding from the media, one of his campaign aides said Hevesi has met with the editorial boards of The Buffalo News, Poughkeepsie Journal along with editorial boards in Rochester, Ithaca and Binghamton.

I left a message with Buffalo News and with Poughkeepsie Journal trying to find out more about those editorial meetings with Hevesi. (What did he say?!). Given the ongoing Hevesi-in-hiding theme of the coverage of this race, I'm surprised those editorial meetings haven't gotten more attention. As proxies for, you know, an actual campaign.

By the way, Hevesi's opponent, Christopher Callaghan, is scheduled to meet with the Times Union and Troy Record today.

-- Azi Paybarah

The Poughkeepsie Journal notes that the company that runs the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (What is it they call it now? Indian Point Child Care Facility?) seems to think, or at least hope, that it has a friend in Eliot. NOTE: The story, by Gannett's Glenn Blain, first ran in the Journal News of Westchester.