For Immediate Release - April 28, 2008 -
Challenge to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Receives Major Netroots Backing
NEW YORK, NY - April 28, 2008 - Paul Newell, the first Democratic challenger to Sheldon Silver in 22 years, has received the endorsement of BlogPAC's "Blue to Bluer" campaign. Newell is the first candidate endorsed by the campaign, which seeks to identify and help elect progressive candidates running in competitive Democratic primaries in blue districts around the country.
The nomination made it clear that Newell is the lead challenger to Sheldon Silver in the 64th Assembly District. "While there are actually two Democratic challengers to Silver this cycle, I have nominated Paul Newell. I believe that he offers the best chance to unseat one of the 'three men in a room' and break a large part of the logjam that keeps our state government a national laughingstock," said Phillip Anderson of The Albany Project. "Besides being a staunch progressive and genuine reformer, Newell has an ambitious and shrewd plan. This race certainly will not be easily won, but it is doable and I think Newell is the man who can do it."
BlogPAC, a consortium of progressive bloggers from all 50 states, instituted the Blue to Bluer campaign to highlight grassroots Democrats who challenge politicians deemed unacceptably conservative, corrupt or both. Support for Paul Newell's campaign has grown in 2008 as Silver's secretive approach to governance has received increasing scrutiny.
"Defeating Sheldon Silver can help bring progressive change across the entire nation, and not just to New York State," said Chris Bowers, Treasurer of BlogPAC and prominent progressive blogger at www.OpenLeft.com.
The 32-year-old community organizer, an elected Barack Obama delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, has been campaigning full time since late 2007 and has knocked on 4,000 doors and distributed over 10,000 flyers in the Lower Manhattan district.
"The support of the Netroots community has been integral to this campaign, and I'm honored to receive BlogPac's Blue to Bluer endorsement," said Paul Newell in a video accepting the endorsement. "The contrast between the online progressive community and Sheldon Silver's backroom politics could not be clearer. When New York's legislators are held to account by the voters we will have the affordable housing, quality schools and livable streets we deserve."
Chris Bowers' announcement on OpenLeft: http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5384
BlogPac's Description of the Blue to Bluer Campaign: http://www.blogpac.com/node/49
Newell's Acceptance Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oxLoSFp9II
Challenge to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Receives Major Netroots Backing
NEW YORK, NY - April 28, 2008 - Paul Newell, the first Democratic challenger to Sheldon Silver in 22 years, has received the endorsement of BlogPAC's "Blue to Bluer" campaign. Newell is the first candidate endorsed by the campaign, which seeks to identify and help elect progressive candidates running in competitive Democratic primaries in blue districts around the country.
The nomination made it clear that Newell is the lead challenger to Sheldon Silver in the 64th Assembly District. "While there are actually two Democratic challengers to Silver this cycle, I have nominated Paul Newell. I believe that he offers the best chance to unseat one of the 'three men in a room' and break a large part of the logjam that keeps our state government a national laughingstock," said Phillip Anderson of The Albany Project. "Besides being a staunch progressive and genuine reformer, Newell has an ambitious and shrewd plan. This race certainly will not be easily won, but it is doable and I think Newell is the man who can do it."
BlogPAC, a consortium of progressive bloggers from all 50 states, instituted the Blue to Bluer campaign to highlight grassroots Democrats who challenge politicians deemed unacceptably conservative, corrupt or both. Support for Paul Newell's campaign has grown in 2008 as Silver's secretive approach to governance has received increasing scrutiny.
"Defeating Sheldon Silver can help bring progressive change across the entire nation, and not just to New York State," said Chris Bowers, Treasurer of BlogPAC and prominent progressive blogger at www.OpenLeft.com.
The 32-year-old community organizer, an elected Barack Obama delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, has been campaigning full time since late 2007 and has knocked on 4,000 doors and distributed over 10,000 flyers in the Lower Manhattan district.
"The support of the Netroots community has been integral to this campaign, and I'm honored to receive BlogPac's Blue to Bluer endorsement," said Paul Newell in a video accepting the endorsement. "The contrast between the online progressive community and Sheldon Silver's backroom politics could not be clearer. When New York's legislators are held to account by the voters we will have the affordable housing, quality schools and livable streets we deserve."
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Chris Bowers' announcement on OpenLeft: http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5384
BlogPac's Description of the Blue to Bluer Campaign: http://www.blogpac.com/node/49
Newell's Acceptance Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oxLoSFp9II
