Ex-Rocker John Hall Wins Upset in NY Congressional Race

editor-publisher ^ | November 8, 2006 | editor-publisher

[freedomdefender]

John Hall, leader of the rock group Orleans that recorded such hits as "Still the One" and "Dance With Me," has won a stunning upset in his race for Congress in upstate New York, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Sue Kelly 51%-49%.

Hall's views on the differences between political and music journalists were recently profiled on E&P Online. At one point, he had to struggle to be taken seriously by the press as a policy man. He ended up gaining the endorsements of all four top dailies in his district.

The upset was more surprising, as this contest was never on the national Democratic Party's list of most likely pickups.

Hall closed his victory speech by singing Steven Van Zandt's song "I Am A Patriot." Numerous musicians played benefits for Hall throughout the campaign, though he was still badly outspent by his opponent. They included Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Pete Seeger and Jackson Browne.

Hall, who ran as an antiwar candidate, is also an environmental activist and drew wide labor backing. He was a key organizer of the fabled "No Nukes" concert and movie in 1979.

He recently appeared on the Colbert Report and fared well, even singing "Still the One" with the host, in an appearance that was seen as drawing much interest in the campaign.

[Dont Mention the War]

Westchester is changing. Republicans used to have a lock on the county. Now, the Democrats control the county government. Hall won Westchester by almost 6,000 votes out of 45,000 cast.

I was running around all over Westchester last week, and was amazed by how few campaign signs I saw for anybody in any race for any party. It was as if there wasn't a single race that was truly up for grabs. Except for running into State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin at the White Plains train station on Friday, I didn't see anyone campaigning at all. (And I don't know why Paulin bothered; she won with 72% of the vote.)

There's just no way around it: The GOP infrastructure in New York State is close to nonexistent, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why fixing this isn't issue number 1 for the RNC.

[BigEdLB]

1994 gave you Congresscritter Sonny Bono Yes, but Sonny Bono was one of us on most issues. Remember he was GOP.

[ariamne]

We lost John Sweeney too..

[conservative in nyc]

We lost John Sweeney too..

Yup - in a usually solidly Republican district - by an even larger margin than Sue Kelly. And RINO Boehlert's Central New York seat turned Democrat, too.

[CT-Freeper]

As former upstate-NYer, I think it is laughable that people are so convinced that if upstate became its own state, it would be solidly Republican. It may not be as liberal, but it would still be a blue state.

[juliej]

I had read over the weekend in Novak's column that Sue Kelly was on the ropes but to a has been rocker?????? What are they smoking over there?

[Crawdad]

God, I am old.

[rippingmyhairout]

I too am a former NYer....and I'll be honest, when NYC gets hit again by terrorists, this time I'll just shrug my shoulders and go on with whatever I was doing. It's cold, but I'm through caring. Screw them in NY. Don't care.

[GSWarrior]

Oh yeah! I didn't even notice the pic had been altered. I have no idea who that is in the photo.

[roses of sharon]

The MSM/DNC/Hollywood/and Academia run this country and have for 40 years.

[hedgie]

19th CD, Northern Westchester, Putnam, Orange. Fast growing area; lots of Cops, FDNY. Not a good loss for the Republicans, especially to a protest vote candidate.

[ninergold3]

RetiredArmy -

You said a mouthful my friend. Bush wasted so much time trying to make nice with those idiots and now they are going to steamroll him.

[conservative in nyc]

As former upstate-NYer, I think it is laughable that people are so convinced that if upstate became its own state, it would be solidly Republican. It may not be as liberal, but it would still be a blue state.

Upstate New York would probably be purple, like its Pennsylvania neighbor, and its Ohio and Michigan relatives. Republicans wouldn't necessarily win, but races would be competitive.

[PzLdr]

Sonny co-wrote one of my favorite songs: "Needles and Pins" [or "Pinza", if you prefer.]