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Joe Lhota remains upbeat but supporters admit: 'The race is done' Joe Lhota remains upbeat but supporters admit: 'The race is done'
(35 minutes later)
Joe Lhota, the Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, was due to arrive at Tatiana’s any minute. A small crowd of Republican voters had set up a small but respectable rally at the restaurant, which sits on the boardwalk in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn – just steps from the beach and the Atlantic beyond.Joe Lhota, the Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, was due to arrive at Tatiana’s any minute. A small crowd of Republican voters had set up a small but respectable rally at the restaurant, which sits on the boardwalk in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn – just steps from the beach and the Atlantic beyond.
The supporters had officially gathered to support Charles "Joe" Hynes, the embattled Brooklyn district attorney who lost the Democratic primary to a younger lawyer named Ken Thompson, but had later made the controversial decision to run on the Republican and conservative party lines. Lhota was only briefly stopping in to show his support for Hynes, and while the crowd got some more mileage out of their “Let’s go Joe!” chant, at no point did Lhota actively seek the spotlight.The supporters had officially gathered to support Charles "Joe" Hynes, the embattled Brooklyn district attorney who lost the Democratic primary to a younger lawyer named Ken Thompson, but had later made the controversial decision to run on the Republican and conservative party lines. Lhota was only briefly stopping in to show his support for Hynes, and while the crowd got some more mileage out of their “Let’s go Joe!” chant, at no point did Lhota actively seek the spotlight.
Lhota arrived late, and strode casually down the boardwalk flanked by a besuited, bare-bones entourage. He worked his way into the gaggle of elected officials, which included former Republican congressman Bob Turner, and stood silently toward the back until he delivered his brief remarks. His entire speech lasted little more than a minute.Lhota arrived late, and strode casually down the boardwalk flanked by a besuited, bare-bones entourage. He worked his way into the gaggle of elected officials, which included former Republican congressman Bob Turner, and stood silently toward the back until he delivered his brief remarks. His entire speech lasted little more than a minute.
“It is so, so important that we also make sure that we continue to have reduced crime in the city of New York, that we have policies in place so that we become a greater place to live, and to work, and to raise our families,” he says, sticking to his campaign’s standard points.“It is so, so important that we also make sure that we continue to have reduced crime in the city of New York, that we have policies in place so that we become a greater place to live, and to work, and to raise our families,” he says, sticking to his campaign’s standard points.
“Please vote for Joe Hynes, and while you’re at it” – and here he allowed himself a wry pause – “vote for me, too.”“Please vote for Joe Hynes, and while you’re at it” – and here he allowed himself a wry pause – “vote for me, too.”
It was almost a suggestion, but most people in attendance seemed open to it. Peggy Turner, 70, believes there to be no acceptable alternative to Lhota. “He’s the right man, and he has a good plan for the city. Mr De Blasio doesn’t,” she said.It was almost a suggestion, but most people in attendance seemed open to it. Peggy Turner, 70, believes there to be no acceptable alternative to Lhota. “He’s the right man, and he has a good plan for the city. Mr De Blasio doesn’t,” she said.
Turner isn’t likely to see that plan enacted, however. A new NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll shows Lhota’s Democratic rival, Bill de Blasio, running away with the race, with 65% of likely voters supporting him, compared to only 24% for Lhota.Turner isn’t likely to see that plan enacted, however. A new NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll shows Lhota’s Democratic rival, Bill de Blasio, running away with the race, with 65% of likely voters supporting him, compared to only 24% for Lhota.
Some Republican voters were disappointed by their candidate’s performance in the polls. Victor Benari, a 60-year-old electronic technician, is a registered Republican and had stopped by Tatiana’s to watch his candidate stump. He said he would vote on election day, but he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the prospect.Some Republican voters were disappointed by their candidate’s performance in the polls. Victor Benari, a 60-year-old electronic technician, is a registered Republican and had stopped by Tatiana’s to watch his candidate stump. He said he would vote on election day, but he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the prospect.
“[Lhota] doesn’t have any chance. The race is done,” he said, shaking his head and shoving his hands in his pockets. Describing himself as “very conservative,” Benari lamented the fact that there weren’t more voters in New York who shared his ideology – and who would race to the polls to send Lhota to city hall.“[Lhota] doesn’t have any chance. The race is done,” he said, shaking his head and shoving his hands in his pockets. Describing himself as “very conservative,” Benari lamented the fact that there weren’t more voters in New York who shared his ideology – and who would race to the polls to send Lhota to city hall.
Lhota’s appearance at Hynes’s rally was not his biggest event of the day – he had just come from noshing on hot dogs at Nathan’s , down the boardwalk in Coney Island – but it did neatly encapsulate the feel of the Lhota campaign: under the radar and not especially enervating; a little bit awkward, but determinedly on-message.Lhota’s appearance at Hynes’s rally was not his biggest event of the day – he had just come from noshing on hot dogs at Nathan’s , down the boardwalk in Coney Island – but it did neatly encapsulate the feel of the Lhota campaign: under the radar and not especially enervating; a little bit awkward, but determinedly on-message.
Loga admits he has struggled to garner the same attention as de Blasio, whose outsize personality is rivaled by his physical frame. Lhota told the Guardian he saw himself as fighting against what he described as “a great groundswell of belief". Lhota admits he has struggled to garner the same attention as de Blasio, whose outsize personality is rivaled by his physical frame. Lhota told the Guardian he saw himself as fighting against what he described as “a great groundswell of belief".
"We've had 10 years, 20 years, of Republican and independent mayors, and there's a belief that's been going on this city, for probably the last year and a half, that we are going to have a Democratic mayor, no matter what.""We've had 10 years, 20 years, of Republican and independent mayors, and there's a belief that's been going on this city, for probably the last year and a half, that we are going to have a Democratic mayor, no matter what."
Lee Miringoff of Marist, which carried out the NBC4/WSJ poll, told the Guardian that he did not necessarily agree with Lhota’s hypothesis.Lee Miringoff of Marist, which carried out the NBC4/WSJ poll, told the Guardian that he did not necessarily agree with Lhota’s hypothesis.
“I don’t think the voters necessarily let their partisan views lead their opinions in terms of switching political parties at this point,” he said.“I don’t think the voters necessarily let their partisan views lead their opinions in terms of switching political parties at this point,” he said.
“I think the party factors do loom large, because there are so many more Democrats than Republicans in New York City, and the Democrats were united. With Blasio having avoided a runoff, it clarified things on the Democratic side early. Republicans do well in New York City elections when the Democrats are splintered.”“I think the party factors do loom large, because there are so many more Democrats than Republicans in New York City, and the Democrats were united. With Blasio having avoided a runoff, it clarified things on the Democratic side early. Republicans do well in New York City elections when the Democrats are splintered.”
When asked if there was anything Lhota could have done better, Miringoff said: “I’m not sure there are a lot of magic buttons he could have pressed.”When asked if there was anything Lhota could have done better, Miringoff said: “I’m not sure there are a lot of magic buttons he could have pressed.”
While Lhota isn’t your typical Republican, he’s not atypical enough to convince the huge numbers of Democratic voters he needs to sway that he’s an acceptable alternative to a liberal like De Blasio.While Lhota isn’t your typical Republican, he’s not atypical enough to convince the huge numbers of Democratic voters he needs to sway that he’s an acceptable alternative to a liberal like De Blasio.
Lhota describes himself as “a fiscal conservative and progressive socially”. He supports same sex-marriage and women’s rights, but believes that while government has a role to play in bettering people’s lives, the role should be limited.Lhota describes himself as “a fiscal conservative and progressive socially”. He supports same sex-marriage and women’s rights, but believes that while government has a role to play in bettering people’s lives, the role should be limited.
De Blasio has repeatedly attempted to tie Lhota to the national Tea Party and its most radical members, but Lhota maintains that “anybody that tries to accuse me of being the Tea Party is sorely mistaken.” This claim did, however, come under fire when he visited the Staten Island Tea Party and was quoted as saying: “My philosophical issues are very close to yours in many, many ways.”De Blasio has repeatedly attempted to tie Lhota to the national Tea Party and its most radical members, but Lhota maintains that “anybody that tries to accuse me of being the Tea Party is sorely mistaken.” This claim did, however, come under fire when he visited the Staten Island Tea Party and was quoted as saying: “My philosophical issues are very close to yours in many, many ways.”
Much of his recent strategy for wooing those crucial Democrats has relied on painting De Blasio as soft on crime, recently saying in a web ad that de Blasio’s “immature ideas and lack of experience will make our streets unsafe.” While neither candidate has proposed to end the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy altogether, Lhota is particularly in favor of maintaining it, but with better police training and a public campaign to inform New Yorkers about their rights in the event of a stop.Much of his recent strategy for wooing those crucial Democrats has relied on painting De Blasio as soft on crime, recently saying in a web ad that de Blasio’s “immature ideas and lack of experience will make our streets unsafe.” While neither candidate has proposed to end the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy altogether, Lhota is particularly in favor of maintaining it, but with better police training and a public campaign to inform New Yorkers about their rights in the event of a stop.
Lhota has managed to woo some voters with this pitch. Richard Rydowski, 48, says that he believed De Blasio would “take us back to the Dinkins era,” when crime in New York was significantly higher than today. But otherwise, it’s not looking good. Lhota has managed to lure some voters with this pitch. Richard Rydowski, 48, says that he believed De Blasio would “take us back to the Dinkins era,” when crime in New York was significantly higher than today. But otherwise, it’s not looking good.
However, if Lhota has private doubts about his ability to win, he isn’t showing them (after all, he’s dealt with actual disasters, playing a key role on 9/11 and later, steering the MTA through superstorm Sandy). And like any good candidate, Lhota remains steadfast in his conviction that he will prevail. “I don't believe the polls,” he told the Guardian with less than 48 hours to go.However, if Lhota has private doubts about his ability to win, he isn’t showing them (after all, he’s dealt with actual disasters, playing a key role on 9/11 and later, steering the MTA through superstorm Sandy). And like any good candidate, Lhota remains steadfast in his conviction that he will prevail. “I don't believe the polls,” he told the Guardian with less than 48 hours to go.
“There's only one poll that counts, and that's the one that we're gonna have on Tuesday.”“There's only one poll that counts, and that's the one that we're gonna have on Tuesday.”
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