Joe Robach Announces He’s Running For Re-Election — The NYC Dems Really Have Their Work Cut Out For Them.
Earlier today, Joe Robach made his re-election announcement at the Roger Robach Community Center, the building named after Robach’s late father, Assemblyman Roger Robach. I received an e-mail about the announcement and was able to attend the event.
First and foremost, if the number and array of supporters is indicative of what we can expect from the upcoming campaign, Robach will once again win re-election by another huge margin regardless of who his opponent is. The building was packed with city and suburban residents, veterans, firefighters, law enforcement, democrats and republicans, union members, members of the faith community, community leaders, elected officials, family members and friends. There had to be around 150 people there. And it looked like every single media outlet showed up to cover it.
I think it’s pretty darn obvious to say that Robach’s announcement blew all three of his opponents’ press events, combined, right out the water. If these are the people who Robach can pull together on short notice from what I was told, this campaign is over before it even gets started.
Aside from the fact that he held his announcement in the community center named after his late father (Joe had made his announcement that he was running for the Senate back in 2002 in the very same building) he had the best possible person speak and then introduce him - his mother, Terri Robach. Now, I’ve met Terri at a number of functions and meetings throughout the city and I have always been impressed with her character, passion and volunteer work in her community. As a speaker introducing her son at his re-election announcement, she was absolutely great! Her passionate speech about her husband’s public service and now what her son Joe had accomplished in elected office over the years was very moving. Who better to give a supportive and loving speech than your own mother?
Robach was his typical passionate self, speaking about putting Rochester first and standing up to the New York City crowd and party bosses to make sure our area gets its fair share of funding from the state. He spoke about working with all local residents and leaders in a bi-partisan way to get things done and thanked everyone there for working with and supporting him. Finally, he said that for him, it’s all about the people and not about the politics. Refreshing when all we hear from all three of his perspective opponents is angry and nasty political attacks.
But for a guy who is supposedly being targeted by the New York City political party machine for elimination, Robach was surprisingly calm (for Robach) and collected. I too had heard that disgraced former Governor Elliott Spitzer had hand picked RICHard Dollinger to run against Robach and that Spitzer was going to put a million dollars into the race. (I’m surprised that he’d have that much left after he paid all of his hookers.) That should terrify any elected official. In addition, I, and I’m sure the media, had expected Robach to tear into each of his opponents who have been pretty vicious in attacking him since they each announced. Nothing has seemed to stick though. Apparently the public and the electronic media can smell bulls–t when it’s waved in front of their noses. Sorry D&C but you guys always buy it hook line and sinker.
Although to this day, I swear I never saw their announcements on one single television station. Who knows, maybe none of them really officially announced their candidacies. Sandy Frankel, RICHard Dollinger and Willa Powell must have gotten the heads up about their party’s leader, Elliott “Client #9″ Spitzer going down in flames and are trying to quietly back out. Look how fast David Koon bagged out of running against Jim Alesi. Fortunately, “Do Nothing” David Koon will probably lose to Dave Bonnacchi anyway and we’ll finally be done with him.
Anyway, Robach says despite what his mean and nasty lying liberal elitist political hypocrites who spew vicious bile from their mouths… (No, he really didn’t say that. Those are my solely my words. But I’d say I’m being pretty accurate here.)
He actually said in response to a question that he was being targeted by the political machine that regardless of who his opponent finally is he will, as he always has, run a positive campaign based on the issues and asking the public to decide for themselves who they feel has done a better job of delivering for the community. Refreshing isn’t it?
I’d say though that if the New York City political party attack machine continues to lie about and attack Robach, he deserves every right to defend himself. Sadly, that downstate machine is not known for fighting fair and it looks like Robach might be left with no choice.
But again, this whole race may just fizzle out. Not too much has been heard about money being spent on this race or about a major push coming from Governor Patterson to steal the State Senate. It’s been eerily quiet since Spitzer resigned in disgrace. Not only does Patterson have his own problems, but to his credit, he doesn’t seem like the F***ing Steamroller type who will “cut your head off” and “knock you down so you’ll never get up” kinda guy like Elliott Spitzer was. What was Dollinger thinking when he signed on with Spitzer anyway? We’ve heard RICHard Dollinger ticked off many in his own party when he made numerous promises that he never kept, but aligning yourself with Elliott Spitzer RICHard? Just to maybe get a judgeship outta the deal? That’s just wrong and we believe the common everyday working stiffs (who comprise the bulk of Robach’s supporters) will see right through that.
We won’t be surprised if the Bonnacchi/Koon race actually takes precedence this year in Rochester and that the anticipated Robach/Dollinger race quietly fades away. I’ll put a twenty down that says no way Dollinger comes remotely close to outworking Robach - no freakin’ way.
Anyway, great announcement Joe, excellent job Mrs. Robach and best of luck to you… IF you even have a campaign this year.
4 Responses to “Joe Robach Announces He’s Running For Re-Election — The NYC Dems Really Have Their Work Cut Out For Them.”
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Go Joe Robach! That is absolutely wonderful that he had his mother Terri introduce him. The Robach’s are an exceptional family. I remember what a wonderful man Roger Robach was and Joe has done a great job himself. Good luck Joe and all my best! We’re with you all the way!
With steamroller #9 gone and his goons not out there this should be a fair race. Thats all Robach needs to win. The local democratic party seems to be very fractured, Joe Morelle can’t seem to get his heard of cats in line. Sandy Frankel is figuring she is getting to be an old gal and probably is at her last chance, so she is ignoring Morelle. Willa Powell is just plain nuts so she is ignoring Morelle. RICHard Dollinger has commited and was counting on the support from Client #9.
Doesn’t seem like the new governor has the stomach for the dirty underhanded win at all costs that #9 had.
The result will be a fair election with a Robach Victory
I won’t take your bet InsidePol. Robach is a workhorse. He’s at everything. Unlike most politicians, he doesn’t pick and choose where he goes, ignoring the events that only have a few people at them. Most pols go to the biggest bang for the buck events. Sure, I’ll even say that’s the smart way to do it, but those few people at the smaller events really appreciate that someone of prominence comes to their thing, especially inner city residents who aren’t used to an elected official coming into “the hood.”
Dollinger is screwed. Everybody knows Elliott Spitzer chose Rick to run for this seat and Rick’s got that hanging over his head. Lie down with dogs, ya get fleas. And Joe Morelle is making sure Dollinger wins the support of the committees, despite the fact that Willa Powell is the better candidate. Sandy’s nearing the end of her career and Powell has the least amount of baggage of all the Dems running.
Rick needs to raise enough money to run his primary and then enough to compete in the general. Elliott Spitzer, the famous hooker-loving, felony-committing former Governor was gonna bankroll Rick’s race. Now he’s gone and Dollinger is left all on his own.
It’s entirely possible that this becomes Robah’s biggest win yet. How does the silver-spooned richy rich Dollinger compete in the city. This could actually be the year Robach outright wins the city of Rochester.
How embarrassing for Dollinger and the Democrat Party would that be!
I’ll propose another bet. I’ll bet you that Dollinger goes around lying to people that his race is still a priority and that he still has that million dollars coming.
That’s a loaded one because everyone is used to Dollinger’s lying and that the Koon Assembly race is the real hot one this year. Still, any takers?
Unfortunately, David Patterson only has around $120,000 in his campaign account. That’s a little shy of the million Rick and the rest of the Senate Democrat candidates need to compete this year.
I’ll put another five down that says the Republicans hang onto the Senate this year too.
Great report InsideP. Joe Robach has worked hard enough to have earned his reelection ten times over. RICHard Dollinger cannot compete with that. My prediction, Dollinger slinks down into the mudpit and runs a negative campaign that trashes the guy he ran from when RICHard abandoned his constituents back in 2002.
What makes RICHard think people will support him when he quit the Senate just so he could TRY to become a judge instead? I read he said that there was no promise from his padron, disgraced former Governor Eliot “I <3 Hookers” Spitzer, for a job after the election. Dollinger is so calculated, selfish and conniving that this has to be another one of his lies.
I agree that the Bonacchi v Koon race will be the frontline campaign this year. David Koon is a lazy official and a lazy campaigner. Backing out of the race against Alesi just shows that Koon doesn’t have the belly for a real fight and David Bonacchi is an excellent opponent. He’d probably get more done as a minority member that Koon ever did in the majority. At least Bonacchi would try.
Mr. P’s Prediction: Robach 68% / Dollinger 32% and Bonacchi 52% / Koon 48%
Robach definitely has a shot at winning the City. He’s worked with Mayor Duffy to bring millions into Rochester to help improve the quality of life there. None of our Democratic leaders can say the same. Pretty amusing when it’s a Senate Republican helping the City of Rochester more than the Assembly Democrats. If Robach loses, the City’s gonna get screwed. I’ll take the side bet on that too.