And it is pretty easy to help the small guys and gals in politics, especially when they are small and need as much help as they can get. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato was a county official in Nassau County on Long Island when he made his bid for the US Senate. That might seem like a big leap, but it his is certainly not an unusual story. He needed to win the endorsement of the Conservative Party, a third but influential party in New York politics that had already been the only springboard for former Sen. James Buckley's leap to national politics. Each of the volunteers were important to D'Amato as he won a surprising victory in 1980, but think how much more important to the freshman senator were the people who helped him find and recruit the thousands of volunteers across the state.
Politicians are, after all, a lot like puppies.
In D'Amato's case, he was quick to respond when reminded of the important base that helped him get elected to his first term in the Senate. The Democrats have a large enrollment edge in New York state, although that edge is most prominent in New York and other major cities in the state. Elsewhere the Republicans have an edge. How well D'Amato does against Schumer may depend on how well the Republican governor, George Pataki, and other GOP candidates do. A strong showing by GOP candidates in congressional races, in the state attorney general's race, on state senate and assembly races, even in local races, will help D'Amato.