Following Final Poll Showing Strong Lead Heading Into Final Days, Rangel Earns Major Newspaper Endorsement From The New York Daily News
NYDN: Rangel Outclasses State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, In Experience, Depth Of Knowledge, Washington Connections & Record of Delivering For New Yorkers
New York Daily News Endorsement Follows Growing Momentum Of Grassroots Support For Congressman Rangel
NEW YORK – Citing his years of service, qualifications and potential for best serving the 13th Congressional District, the New York Daily News today decisively endorsed Congressman Charlie Rangel for reelection. In its unequivocal endorsement, the New York Daily News calls Rangel “a master legislator who outclasses his top Democratic primary rival, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, in experience, depth of knowledge, Washington connections and a record of delivering for New Yorkers.”
The editorial board notes that Espaillat “has a limited possibility of excelling in Congress,” and cites the Senator’s inexplicable vote “to repeal the city’s tax on commuters, a betrayal that has cost City Hall almost $10 billion over the past 15 years.”
“Once known as Charlie from Lenox Ave., Rangel has been counted out before — as a high school dropout, as a soldier on a frozen Korean War battlefield under assault and wounded by waves of Chinese troops, as an embattled congressman. Head to head, he’s more qualified than Espaillat and holds the greater potential for serving the district and New York. His many years of service also deserve reward. Finally, it is highly probable that a vindicated Rangel would serve a valedictory term, step down to applause and open the ballot to far broader competition. He has the Daily News endorsement,” said the New York Daily News Editorial Board.
Today’s endorsement follows a recent poll demonstrating Congressman Rangel’s 13-point lead, with just two days before the election, Rangel solidifies momentum in the race with a strong favorability rating, is ahead in both Manhattan and the Bronx and holds overwhelming leads among many key voting blocs, including a 21 point lead among seniors. Today’s endorsement also comes on the heels of support for Rangel from President Bill Clinton, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, Former Opponent Of Rangel & Espaillat Clyde Williams and 1199/SEIU, the city’s largest labor union with 200,000 members.
This support comes on the heels of recent endorsements from President Clinton, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Donald Payne Jr., Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Greg Meeks, Congressman Joe Crowley, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, Congressman Steve Israel, State Senator Bill Perkins, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, former Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell, former Assemblyman (and 2010 opponent) Adam Clayton Powell IV, Former Opponent Of Rangel & Espaillat Clyde Williams, Councilwoman Inez Dickens and former Councilman Robert Jackson.
In addition, the Rangel campaign recently announced endorsements from ATU International, CSA, 1199/SEIU, all three AFSCME – affiliated unions DC 37, DC 1707 and CSEA, Teamsters Local 237 & 202, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Uniformed Firefighters Association, New York State Court Officers Association, New York State Association of Letter Carriers, Plumbers Union, Local 1 and many clubs throughout Manhattan and the Bronx, including the William Jefferson Clinton Democrats, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Three Parks Independent Democrats, Broadway Democrats, Tioga Carver Democrats, Frederick E. Samuel Democratic Club, Sojourner Truth Democratic Club, West Harlem Progressive Democrats, El Nuevo Caribe, MLK Dem clubs and New York Amsterdam News.
EDITORIAL – Once more with Charlie
At the age of 84 and after 44 years in Congress, Rep. Charlie Rangel is seeking a likely last hurrah with reelection to a 23rd term in Washington. The voters of the 13th district, covering upper Manhattan and some of the Bronx, should give it to him.
Rangel is also pursuing redemption after disastrously squandering his seniority and his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, and suffering the humiliation of censure by his peers in the House of Representatives, for ethical breaches and disregarding tax obligations.
His offenses seemed to doom him two years ago and prompted this page to say then that enough of Rangel was enough. He prevailed nonetheless, proving that the voters held his long and distinguished service in higher regard than his late-career lapses.
That judgment demands respect. More, Rangel — who appears appropriately chastened by his plunge from grace — is a master legislator who outclasses his top Democratic primary rival, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, in experience, depth of knowledge, Washington connections and a record of delivering for New Yorkers.
Espaillat has served 18 years in Albany, 14 in the Assembly and four in the Senate, and is taking his second shot at dethroning Rangel. He would be the first Dominican elected to Congress and has played heavily on his background.
In the Legislature, he was the main sponsor of rent regulation renewal and was the first lawmaker to urge repeal of inappropriate tax breaks to five luxury Manhattan residential developments.
On the other side of the ledger, Espaillat fell in line behind Speaker Sheldon Silver and voted in 1999 to repeal the city’s tax on commuters, a betrayal that has cost City Hall almost $10 billion over the past 15 years.
While he is affable and dedicated, his record at the age of 59 speaks of a politician who exceeds Albany’s low standards but has a limited possibility of excelling in Congress, particularly as a member of a Democratic minority.
Once known as Charlie from Lenox Ave., Rangel has been counted out before — as a high school dropout, as a soldier on a frozen Korean War battlefield under assault and wounded by waves of Chinese troops, as an embattled congressman.
Head to head, he’s more qualified than Espaillat and holds the greater potential for serving the district and New York. His many years of service also deserve reward. Finally, it is highly probable that a vindicated Rangel would serve a valedictory term, step down to applause and open the ballot to far broader competition. He has the Daily News endorsement.