Reader qka wrote to say that Matt Zeller was in Penn Yan with Andrew Cuomo on Thursday. The Finger Lakes Times mentions Zeller's name, but the Penn Yan Chronicle-Express story doesn't. Similarly, the Corning Leader's story on Cuomo's appearance in Hornell, which was also attended by Zeller, doesn't mention him.
This is a small example, but in general, Zeller just isn't getting any media coverage. The Massa media operation would crank out press releases almost daily, while the Zeller campaign has pushed out a couple in the whole month of August. I don't understand it.
Comments
He was in Penn Yan at the Cuomo event, but he didn't speak at all ..... just worked the crowd.
I would imagine that Zeller's operation is a fraction of the size of Massa's, since his resources are probably a fraction of Massa's.
Massa's was one guy and Massa for most of his campaigns, as far as I know.
Even though I am not a Republican (I am independent) I do not get Zeller's running here. He is from Virginia, must have been hand picked by either Nancy Pelosi or Rahm Emanuel. Maybe I am being too suspect of his decision to run...but it sure feels like there is more to his story.
He grew up in Rochester, and his family still lives here.
By the way, those of you pushing this "carpetbagger" line should spend a little time in the Southeast suburbs of Rochester, which are part of the 29th. There are a lot of people who have chosen Rochester as their home, but didn't grow up around here.
It makes me wonder if those pushing the "carpetbagger" line even think those people should be allowed to vote, since they chose to live here.
Ha! Give us all a break, Anonymous Correspondent. Fact is, neither Pelosi nor Emmanuel would be able to identify the name “Matt Zeller” if their livelihoods (or more) depended on it! This guy was selected because, in the aftermath of the Massa mess, he had much of the right stuff: Young, Afghanistan veteran, multi-generational roots in Western New York, and educated at two of Upstate NY’s finest colleges---and we have plenty of fine ones. If Volk had gotten on the ballot and if—a big one—she had secured an endorsement from Sarah Palin (let alone an appearance), I believe Volk could have pulled this off with Zeller a respectable second (in light of Tom Reed’s apparent general unpopularity). Or, who knows, the top two finishing positions per this scenario might have been reversed. Now, with it seemingly Amateur Hour for the Zeller campaign from a media relations standpoint (I guess), people are reconciled to the notion of “Congressman Reed.”
Incidentally, we Steubenites are restless these days. The Hornell Evening Tribune, in an extraordinary move, actually ran an editorial lamenting the local GOP bosses’ hair-splitting successes in getting V olks’ petitions thrown out, as well as that for hometown Hornell guy, and would-have-been Democratic Assembly candidate, Randy Weaver.
http://www.eveningtribune.com/opinions/editorials/x2092799553/Tribune-ed...
The bosses KNEW that with Volk on the ballot, and an expected-to-be-strong Upstate showing by Cuomo, that it just might happen that the Dems would pull an upset in either race. Oh well, what they did was fair and compliant with the law……but it would have been so much more fun—and democratic—with a full card of candidates.
Reed and Volk are never mentioned in this piece. The Weaver thing was ridiculous. But Volk was not thrown off due to a problem with her formatting. She didn't have enough valid signatures.
Dude, the man was working in DC for four years-- he hadn't lived in the area since college. Conveniently he decided to move back the day Massa resigned. If he'd been back for a year or so, that'd be one thing... but this just reeks of national party selection-- heck, the guy was a CIA agent! If that doesn't scream plant, I don't know what does.
@upinprattsburgh Not sure what you mean about Mr. Reed's "general unpopularity." Perhaps your point is that he is the best known of the three candidates, and therefore he has been the easiest target for newspapers to shoot at (Most readers would be saying "Zeller who?" or "Volk who?"), but as far as Mr. Reed being generally unpopular, I don't know who you've been talking to. Perhaps the Corning Leader, a paper avowedly opposed to Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed has been warmly received in his travels throughout the county, and the only "unpopularity" that can be tagged to him is among our liberal minority (who want him to fail) and among a small number of disgruntled Volk supporters who couldn't muster enough names to put her on the ballot. So much for "general unpopularity."
The Leader opposed to Reed? Not sure where you get this info - my guess is that they will endorse Reed over Zeller.
Zeller has got to get his act together if he's going to have any shot. I can't believe he's the best we could do, but if he's what we're stuck with he's got to step it up. Half the people I talk to have never heard of the guy! He has no primary -- when are we going to start seeing his signs?
I think any candidate who does not come out STRONGLY against hydrofracturing (or at least with a long list of conditions) is going to lose the 29th. Reed is on the wrong side of this issue and Zeller is on the right side. THAT alone will make him a serious contender. Politicos are underestimating the strength of that issue among the people in this area.
Reed is on the right side of the hydrofracturing issue. More people support it than are against it. period. Go with the facts/ not the fears.
Zeller was at a picnic organized by the pro-gun group SCOPE on Saturday. He gave a pretty passionate speech. What was odd is that it was far more conservative than his opponent Tom Reed's. He spoke about how the federal debt was out of control, the stimulus didn't work, health care was your business not the federal government's, etc. I thought I was listening to Son of Paladino. The comments later from audience members was basically "why is he running as a Democrat?".
Tom Reed, by contrast, was channeling Randy Kuhl -- very bland, said little of consequence, left the impression he isn't very passionate about much of anything. The crowd was polite but clearly not enthused.
Reed is going to win by default, but once again the southern tier will have a congressman who is totally forgettable and leaves no fingerprints on Washington, in the tradition of Amo Houghton and Randy Kuhl. Whatever you thought of Massa, he always left an impression.
Zeller is in favor of the stimulus, and hasn't offered any way to go after the debt. He is against repealing Obamacare. Reed isn't channeling Randy. Zeller is channeling Massa. Being completely two-faced on every issue.
http://innovation.cqpolitics.com/atlas/house2010_rr
CQ has moved NY-29 from Toss-up all the way to Safe Republican!! That's a big jump!!
It's probably in the bag for Reed. But folks like Volk and Zeller and many of the rest of us will watch him like a hawk in Congress. And I agree: Massa, whatever you thought about him, was a whirlwind and a phenomenon. A tragic downfall and I hope that he and his family are putting things back together, in what configuration that proves to be. (Speaking of memorable, though the object of her comment didn't necessarily get made but got even, how about that off-the-wall/very-publicized remark by Jan Volk that "Good people don't grow up to be collections lawyers". ???? She could have been A RIOT on the campaign trail....I mean, that took nerve.
"But Volk was not thrown off due to a problem with her formatting. She didn't have enough valid signatures."
That is not a true statement. Please know the facts before you post. Jan didn't have enough money to hire a lawyer to go to Albany to go line-by-line to fight. For example, "Gowanda does not exist". I'm sure the people of Gowanda would have something to say about that.
As a result, the campaign tried to get 3,500 signatures in 10 days, that was not successful. However, the signatures keep coming (more than the 3,500 threshold). The positive response furthered Mrs. Volk's conviction to continue her run for Congress via write-in.
It is about time to call the Republican operatives to the carpet. Mr. Halladay and Mr. Quinlan are interfering with democracy. I think that Mr. Reed's direct connection with these two men will ultimately be his downfall.
She had enough money to hire Jim Ostrowski.
Did it ever occur to any of you that Matt Zeller could be present but was not allowed to speak at Andrew Cuomo's party? That Zeller IS putting out press releases (and the media is not printing them), driving all over the district meeting and talking to folks (I know - I've been at several of his many stops) , working hard to raise mucho dollars in a record amount of time (basically in three months, while Reed has had a year and kicked in $100,000 of his own ill-gotten cash plus the financial support of corporations interested in their own agenda, not the southern tier). Jeez, when does Zeller sleep? I would love to see any of you try and accomplish what this fine young man is doing. Where do you get your "facts" that you fling about so blithely? I have to wonder what planet most of you are on.
Why should a lawyer/debt collector/one-time-not-effective forgettable mayor of a middle-sized town somewhere in Steuben County who has not had an original thought in his head, blathers the party line, looks like a heart-attack candidate, blah-blah-blah personality, could ever begin to make a difference in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!, which makes national policy about international issues (and here I have to ask: does Tom Reed have the inkling of a clue about anything outside of his own town and law office?) - why should it be "in the bag" for him? Why are you so sure he is the "sure winner, candidate of choice"? Just because YOU think he is?
Ellusive? Not at all - he is very available if you care to check. zellerforcongress.com...offices in Victor, Penn Yan, Corning and more to come.....just watch, if you aren't already close-minded.
Think, people, think! Don't just spew garbage!
I haven't gotten a single Zeller press release this month. There are a couple on the web site. I used to get Massa press releases almost daily.
Of course, perhaps the Zeller campaign doesn't consider me press, but I haven't seen many Zeller stories in the media.
I was going to vote for Reed until you won me over with this intellectual argument for Zeller:
"Why should a lawyer/debt collector/one-time-not-effective forgettable mayor of a middle-sized town somewhere in Steuben County who has not had an original thought in his head, blathers the party line, looks like a heart-attack candidate, blah-blah-blah personality, could ever begin to make a difference in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!"
Thank you for enlightening me. I am but a small town Steuben County resident who would have otherwise erroneously voted for Tom....
Yep - that's got me putting up Zeller signs in my front yard :)
I think it's weird that this post would complain about the lack of press releases from the Zeller campaign and link to their website as proof, while completely ignoring the Reed website as a comparison. If you look at his site (http://www.tomreedforcongress.com), he hasn't added any new blog posts since mid July, and has not added any more press releases than the Zeller campaign.
Both campaigns seem a little more media shy than they should be, but then again, the average voter isn't paying attention yet, and won't for another few weeks. In the meantime, why give the Reed campaign a free pass while criticizing Zeller?
Who needs press releases when you have goodiles like these:
http://tomreedforcongress.com/sites/default/files/family-photo-small.jpg
http://tomreedforcongress.com/sites/default/files/firetrucksmall.jpg
http://tomreedforcongress.com/sites/default/files/confmeetingsmall.jpg
The pictures look like they came straight from a Watchtower Magazine. Kind of creepy, really. It's all about the image!
That 'heart attack victim' line was in poor taste and way over the line. Enough. And yes, I think "The Leader" will endorse Reed, too. Maybe not entirely enthusiastically, but will endorse him nevertheless.
On another but related topic: Can you believe this? The Steuben County Legislative Board, entirely Republican save for one (a Hornell Democrat whose Assembly petitions were successfully challenged by Reed and Company) has HIRED the Reed firm to serve as "County Attorney" for a spell. I think Reed placed the business in a blind trust but am unsure. It still SMELLS. Couple that with Reed's NYS "restoration loan" and......man, it is times like this that I sure wish Massa was still around. Like Jan Volk, he wasn't reluctant nor scared to speak out publicly about these shananigans. The Hornell paper has a report of this: http://www.eveningtribune.com/topstories/x7661657/Hornell-legislator-cas...
Know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em (that should be the title of your next post after listening to this little doozie):
http://www.canisteovalleynews.com/index.php/Local/local-news/13340.html
Jan Volk Spoke at the Catt. County Tea Party Meeting Last night:
http://www.canisteovalleynews.com/index.php/Local/local-news/13340.html
@Rational Thinker: I understand that Mr. Zeller may be available, and that he may not be getting as much help from Cuomo and the media as he would like. But if we are to have any chance in this district, we need a candidate who is not just available, but practically in-your-face, getting his name out there, and making his own breaks. Perhaps just working hard is not enough, perhaps he needs to work smarter, have a better strategy. Create a controversy. SOMETHING!
That is not a true statement. Please know the facts before you post. Jan didn't have enough money to hire a lawyer to go to Albany to go line-by-line to fight. For example, "Gowanda does not exist". I'm sure the people of Gowanda would have something to say about that.
As a result, the campaign tried to get 3,500 signatures in 10 days, that was not successful. However, the signatures keep coming (more than the 3,500 threshold). The positive response furthered Mrs. Volk's conviction to continue her run for Congress via write-in.
It is about time to call the Republican operatives to the carpet. Mr. Halladay and Mr. Quinlan are interfering with democracy. I think that Mr. Reed's direct connection with these two men will ultimately be his downfall.
I am surprised that the Zeller campaign manager, who was Massa's press person in one of his campaigns, has not done any major push. What is he waiting for? An engraved invite to slam Reed?
Perhaps Zeller and his staff are trying to run a clean campaign, not the usual "slam" approach. However, Reed seems to be an easy target by so many degrees of his own making and I have to agree with the previous poster....what is Zeller's campaign manager waiting for? Election Day is only 2 months away.....step up or be passed by!