According to insiders knowledgeable of the discussions that took place in recent weeks, the Republican Leader of the NY State Senate Dean Skelos is ready to clear the way for Democrat Simcha Felder to run in an open election for the newly created Super Jewish State Senate District. ‘An Open Election’ here would mean that the GOP and Conservative lines will also try to carry Simcha Felder (or perhaps appoint a door-knob candidate), to secure a Felder win.
The capitulation by the Republicans who fought for and created the new district came as a result of hefty conversations that Skelos had with key Jewish activists, leaders and political insiders. The consensus was that Felder, based on his background, will have broad support among all Jewish voters, and putting up a candidate against him will only create a rift among the community, and beating Felder will still not be guaranteed despite such a fight.
To avoid this outcome and after getting guarantees from Felder that he will back Republicans when his vote can be deciding, Skelos is ready to help Felder secure the GOP and Conservatives lines, and to accommodate other potential Republicans such such as David Storobin that he should run in a different district.
Others who planned (Nachman Caller) or were thinking (Noach Dear) to run on the Republican Lines, are expected A) to drop the idea of actually running, B) will have little-to-no support from key players in the political and Jewish leadership circles even IF they decide to collect petitions and force them selves onto the ballot for a Primary.
Whether Mr. Skelos will back Felder publicly or just behind the scenes remains to be seen. For clues, keep an eye on the actions of Caller, Dear, and Storobin, in addition to the (non) campaign expenditures of the Republican’s Senate Campaign Committee.
