Clavin to challenge Gillibrand? It's a joke

                                                                                     

Town of Hempstead induction ceremony


Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin's induction ceremony this morning wasn't even over before excited texts and emails (apparently from audience members) went out, exclaiming that Nassau GOP chairman Joseph Cairo had just announced that Clavin would be running for U.S. Senate this year.

Presumably  that meant Clavin would be running against New York Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is up for re-election this November.

The news was shocking because Clavin, who was taking office for his third two-year term as supervisor, had not even been rumored to be a candidate for senate.

In the audience was Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has been widely rumored as a potential challenger to Gillibrand this year.

Also, one of the keynote speakers at the ceremony was U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat who has partnered with Clavin and the town on many projects in the past. 

In fact, before Cairo spoke, Schumer, who is also the U.S. Senate majority leader, was effusive in his praise of Clavin.

"It's a great day for him," Schumer said of Republican supervisor. "Nobody put a silver spoon in his mouth, plucked him out of somewhere. He worked hard. He got here the old-fashioned way. He earned it."

Politically, wouldn't it be a bit uncomfortable to announce a candidate who potentially could put Schumer's majority leader job in jeopardy?

So listen to what Cairo actually said before he swore in Clavin to his next term:

"Sen. Schumer said that he and Donald both attained the offices to which they aspired. I guess he hasn't heard the rumors in Washington about the Republican candidate for Senate in 2024. So go get 'em Donald!"

It certainly seemed like a joke to the average listener. But Republican foot soldiers apparently take everything literally that their leader says.

Don Clavin

 

 

 

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