By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-895398.mp3
Albany, NY – Talk about one vote deciding an election - this one could decide one man's political career. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports on a shift of public opinion in New York's 24th Congressional District.
Health care activists and advocates turned out near the end of March to protest a $500 a ticket fundraiser for Central New York Congressman Michael Arcuri. The event was held at the Albany offices of Capitol Public Strategies, regarded as a largely GOP lobbying and consulting firm . The protesters accused Arcuri of betraying his constituents, and everyone in New York and America, when he voted against the health care reform bill.
After Arcuri's vote, the nonpartisan publication "Cook Political Report" changed its projection for the 24th Congressional District race from leaning Democratic to a tossup. A poll on the Utica Daily News website asks "What if YOU were a member of Congress? How would YOU have voted on the health care bill?" the random sampling of internet readers shows 63% would have voted NO, while 37% would have voted YES. The poll mirrors a more traditional sampling by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which showed that significantly more people in the 24th Congressional district opposed the overall health care reform bill than supported it. Arcuri, a second-term Democrat who lives in Utica, faces challenges this fall from two republicans and at least one democrat.