Can Local Republicans Overcome? November 7, 2006

Erin Monteiro, Field Producer

My cab driver and I started talking about the election this morning as he drove me to Penn Station, where I would get on a train to Albany. I told him I was going to Republican Headquarters to cover the election. He laughed, then asked: “If Democrats take over, would it really be any different?” I stared at him in the rear view mirror.

For weeks our newsroom has been filled with talk and analysis of polls and candidates, but right now, as I’m traveling to Albany with reporter Tim Minton to bring you live reports from Republican Headquarters, this cab driver had me thinking–when people sit around their dinner tables with friends and families and the election comes up, do they pose the same question the cab driver did. What would change? As Republicans appear to be losing their grip and a Democratic landslide of major NY state offices appears on the horizon for the first time in decades, what are our viewers thinking as they head to the polls?

Will the big story out of Republican Headquarters tonight be about a referendum on Iraq? Could it be a blame game? Governor Pataki won’t be at the “party” tonight. Will anger be directed at him? Or will the story be about NY Republicans’ frustration at the national party’s neglect as they recognize that money that could have been used on NY races was given to other states’ closer races. Or will it be “an end of an era” piece as Republicans get ready to end a 12-year reign in Albany?

Find out tonight. Tim Minton and I will be live from Republican Headquarters in Albany with candidates and party leaders. Stay tuned to WNBC NewsChannel 4, stay logged on to wnbc.com and send your questions to wnbcelection@nbc.com.

Going the Distance November 7, 2006

Jonas Schwartz, Sports Anchor

This was the first year I’ve ever covered the New York City Marathon, and while I’m not a big runner, I have to say it was the one of the most fun events I’ve ever been around.

It was incredible to see the huge crowds of runners arriving to the fields at 4:30 in the morning. At the start I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I got the chance to ride in the lead car of the whole race. It was incredible to drive the route and see all of the various neighborhoods of our great city. From the Verrazano to Central Park you see all of the best that New York has to offer. But 2 moments stick out in my mind.

The first was the men’s wheelchair winner Kurt Fearnley who fell off his chair and despite having no legs, picked himself back up, got back in the chair and set a new marathon record.

The other moment that sticks out in my mind was watching a man run to Central Park and collapse with only 2 tenths of a mile to go. I stood there in shock as the man, who had run all this way, had his body just shutdown. The gentleman tried to get up several times and couldn’t. Finally a police officer helped him off the course, as exhaustion and dejection was all over the man’s face.

In my career I’ve covered everything from NBA playoffs to the SuperBowl, but the most moving event I was ever a part of had to be the marathon.

Triple Play November 6, 2006

Rob Morrison, Anchor

The first recorded triple play by the Boston Red Sox happened on September 5, 1919. It was a classic 1-3-5 against the Philadelphia Athletics; Jones to McGinnis To Vitt in the 2nd inning with runners on 1st and 3rd.

Tomorrow night, WNBC’s “Election ’06” coverage will be a triple play – the first for a New York television station. Beginning at 9:01 pm, we’ll begin our multi-media broadcast with a live report on WNBC-TV, WNBC.com and our 4.4 digital cable stations. (Time Warner 732, Cablevision 110 in New York and New Jersey, 119 in Connecticut and Comcast 249.)

At 9:02 pm WNBC-TV will return to prime time programming, while our special coverage will continue online and on cable. The coverage, as always, will be comprehensive with many local and national races in the spotlight.

While our Political Unit is positively giddy about this mid-term election, my interests are less political and more in emerging media, which is why I’m happy to be part of our coverage. I’ll be here, online, fielding questions and moderating a discussion with those of you who chose to participate. For instance, if you are wondering about the behind the scenes mood in the Hevesi camp, email me here, and I’ll get your question answered during our broadcast.

It’ll be a late night and an especially early morning on Wednesday, but it should also be fun.

The Running of the Bull November 3, 2006

Dan Rice, Chopper 4 Correspondent

I mentioned this on the air but it bears repeating. I have been in this business for over 14 years, with at least 12 of those years in some sort of aircraft. In that time, I have seen dogs running on the highway, bears running through people’s back yards, turkeys running on a highway and even horses that have broken free of their paddock. This was the first time I have seen a bull on the run, not to mention for it to happen in such a large city like Newark!

As we were getting ready for our flight this morning, our Assignment Desk Manager, Peter Bunin, told me of a situation he was hearing about with a bull in Newark. As we were approaching the location, Pete told me to hurry up because the bull was still on the loose.

I was very surprised to come over the scene and to see the bull running around an enclosed parking area. I have to say, a lot of credit needs to be given to the Newark Police Department and (what I am assuming is) Newark Animal Control. I would imagine their training does not prepare them with techniques needed to lasso a bull! Yet, they were able to do it with much resistance from the animal.

Understandably, the bull was scared and running for his life, at times hitting the large air conditioners outside of a nearby building. Once he was lassoed, he was tied to a fence post while officials tried to figure out not only where he came from, but what to do with him as well.

When we left the scene shortly after 7 a.m., the bull was munching on some hay and had a water bucket to drink from. What more could a bull ask for? As Rob pointed out on-air, the bull did seem rather young and hopefully he will meet with a happy ending. Maybe he will find his way to a nice farm in the country. Hopefully. In the meantime, he did provide us some entertainment for an hour this morning, bringing a little of a Wyoming State Fair to New Jersey’s largest city!

DeDapper Debrief November 3, 2006

Jay DeDapper, Political Correspondent

Editor’s Note: Nothing “brief” about this post…but it is the type of comprehensive information that makes Jay one of the best at what he does.

Four days to go before Election Day and some races are in the bag — others are thisclose.
Let’s start with the Senate race and Hillary Clinton – the Republican leadership was never able to find a strong candidate to take her on instead settling on former Yonkers mayor John Spencer – he is quite conservative for this increasingly blue state and has not been able to raise much money at least in comparison to Hillary’s record-shattering $48.5 million. The result is he remains 35 points behind – a number that hasn’t changed much over the course of the campaign.

WNBC/Marist 10/20 Hillary Clinton up by 36% points
Quinnippiac 10/19 Hillary Clinton up by 35% points

It’s the same story in the Governors Race – Eliot Spitzer has been way out in front of his opponent John Faso all year and remains so – the two most recent polls give him a 50 point lead – it would take some mighty powerful surprise to turn this contest around.

WNBC/Marist 10/20 Eliot Spitzer up by 51% points
Quinnippiac 10/18 Eliot Spitzer up by 49% points

The Attorney General race was filled with intrigue earlier this fall when WNBC broke the story that Federal authorities were investigating Republican Jeanine Pirro for alledgedly trying to plant a bug on her husband’s boat to catch him cheating on her. But before and since Democrat Andrew Cuomo has ridden the Democratic wave holding a solid double-digit lead.

The contest for Comptroller on the other hand is the one place Republicans could avoid an historic sweep. Incumbent Democrat Alan Hevesi used a state employee to chauffeur his ailing wife around for several years and only repaid the taxpayers after his opponent Chris Callaghan raised it as an issue. After that Hevesi asked the State Ethics Committee to look into this. That panel came back with an opinion that Hevesi has probably violated state ethics laws and the fallout was swift. Most Republicans called on Hevesi to resign. Most Democrats waited to see what top-of-the-ticket Eliot Spitzer would do. It took him two days but he essentially un-endorsed Hevesi. No other major Democrat followed leaving Hevesi to argue “let the voters decide.”

Right now there are two fronts. On the legal side, the Albany District Attorney has a grand jury looking at the case but nothing is expected before Election Day. On the other hand George Pataki asked former U.S. Attorney David Kelly to look at this case and recommend whether Hevesi should face removal proceedings in the State Senate. His report is expected to be announced later today (Friday) which, depending on the outcome, could add more fuel to the political fire.

Politically Hevesi has battled back with a heavy barrage of ads both attacking Callaghan as not competant to run a $140 billion dollar retirement fund (one of the more important jobs of the state Comptroller) and trumpeting his own record. But Hevesi has become fodder in every other Republican campaign too with ads talking about the scandal running in the Governor and Attorney General races – Callaghan has also become the party’s cause celebre.

In New Jersey there’s one race you’re probably pretty familiar with unless you live in a cave. The Senate campaign between Democrat Bob Menendez and Republican Tom Kean Jr. is the one Senate race in the whole country that Republicans think they have a shot at picking off a Democrat. That explains the ads and nastiness. But there have been six independent polls released in the last couple of days and they all give Menendez a lead that averages out to about 7 points – no poll has shown Kean in the lead since one released in mid-October. Kean wants this election to be about ethics but voters seem to prefer to focus on the Iraq War — which is how Menenedez wants it.

In Connecticut there’s a three-way race for the Senate that incumbent Joe Lieberman is looking pretty good in right now. After losing the Democratic Primary in August he refocused his campaign and has done a good job of attracting independents and some Republicans – that’s important since there are 800-thousand independents in CT, 600-thousand Democrats, and 400-thousand Republicans. Ned Lamont, who won the primary, tried to broaden his anti-war campaign during the fall but it has fallen flat – in the polls Lieberman has never trailed and he’s been helped by the Republican Alan Schlesinger who was abandoned by the national party and has been little more than comic relief in this race. The ads in this race are hot and heavy but have not had an impact if the polls are to be believed.

Finally the big national political story is the House in Balance. The Democrats need 15 seats to take control of the House for the first time since 1994’s “Contract With America” Republican landslide. This year the Northeast is in the spotlight: 13 House races in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are being closely watched – three that will be bellweathers: Fairfield County’s Fourth District where incumbent Chris Shays has been on the defensive for his support of the War in Iraq; New York 19 covering the city’s northern suburbs where the one-time rock star John Hall is giving incumbent Sue Kelly the race of her political life in a changing district; and New Jersey’s Seventh District which runs across Union, Somerset, and Hunterdon Counties there Republican Mike Ferguson is facing a tough fight in a tough political climate from Linda Stender who’s used Ferguson’s opposition to fetal stem-cell research pretty effectively.

We’ll run down all of the close House races in our area on Live at Five tonight and again Saturday morning on Weekend Today in New York.

More Stringz, Please November 3, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

Damien and Tourie Escobar are a lot of things: brothers, hip-hop violinists, and above all, inspiring.

When we shot the story about their band, Nuttin’ but Stringz, I had a chance to speak with their mother, Gayle Ponder, after everyone left. She shared with me how the boys, now 18 and 21, each went through challenging periods as teens, as many young people do.

Ms. Ponder believes it was playing violin, which they learned through special programs in their public schools, that ultimately pulled Damien and Tourie through their rougher stages. She also feels that the discipline of learning the language of music, of practicing, and promoting themselves has given her sons a solid base upon which they can build anything they want in life.

At a time when music and art programs are being cut from public school curriculums for budgetary reasons, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect upon how important it is for students to be involved with culture, and learn how we can help support the schools in our area.

A great place to start is http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music/ target=”new”

Whether a child becomes a rock star or just gains some rock solid skills for living, music education deserves a place in our students’ lives.

Their Tricks, My Treat November 1, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

I had the strangest reaction to this year’s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. I got choked up. Standing among the myriad bands and dancers, costumes and floats, I was moved by how much artistry and creativity had gone into each presentation. The passion it must have taken to put so much time, energy, and money into everything was apparent at a glance. I was particularly taken with the puppets: massive skeletons, dancing dragons and willowy pumpkins, all so spooky and graceful. Truly magical and haunting.

And there we were side by side: my cameramen Dean Hart and Dennis O’Keefe, thousands of spectators, and me – just lucky enough to be right in the thick of it, taking it all in for free.
I’m not sure if the parade participants do it more for onlookers or for themselves. And I’m not sure it matters.

I just love living in a city that attracts creative people of all bents, and supports events which celebrate diversity, culture, and life.

Check out the Halloween Parade by clicking here

Red Auerbach October 31, 2006

Len Berman, Sports Anchor

The legendary Red Auerbach passed away over the weekend. He was the architect and caretaker of the Boston Celtics franchise for basically…forever. When we were kids, and he was coaching, we thought it was cool that Red would light up a cigar when he thought the Celtics had the game won. It wasn’t until I worked with Bob Cousy on Celtics broadcasts that I learned the players didn’t like it. They thought it was showing up the other team.

Red’s beliefs were basic. He bled Celtic green and he picked his players for character as well as their playing ability. I remember after a tough double overtime playoff loss to Kareeem Adbul Jabbar and Milwaukee in 1974, all of the Celtics showed up in the locker room and handled all of the reporter’s questions with grace. Nobody was hiding in the trainer’s room.

The day John Havlicek retired, the sportswriters gave John a gift. But the sportswriter in charge was too shy to make the presentation, so during the first half of the game, he asked me to do it at halftime. Red got upset with me. I wasn’t wearing a tie.

I was sitting at Boston Garden when it was Auerbach’s turn to draft in 1978. The Celtics owned the 6th pick. He shocked everyone by taking Larry Bird. Bird was eligible to be drafted, but he had announced he was going to return to college to play his senior year.The Celtics needed immediate help, but Auerbach, as usual, had pulled the shrewd move a year early! I was also sitting one seat away from Red, the first time he ever saw Bird play in person. I was announcing an Indiana State game on HBO. Auerbach, sitting along press row, couldn’t contain himself. He had never seen a player pass the ball the way Bird did. And he had already drafted him the previous June!

There are a million Red Auerbach stories. But there was only one Red Auerbach. The sports world sees his kind once every…..forever.

Private Cowbell October 30, 2006

Rob Morrison, Anchor

I caught Jeffrey Lyons’ interview with the legendary Christopher Walken on Weekend Today in New York and it reminded me of a funny story – one of those “behind the scenes” things that keep us going here in the dark, early morning hours.

Christopher Walken is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, from his Oscar-winning performance in The Deer Hunter to his tremenous Senator Cleary character in Wedding Crashers. He’s also been one on SNL’s most popular hosts and his “Cowbell” skit has taken on cult status. If you’ve never seen it, I beg you to take 5 minutes and watch.

Anyway, Otis and I are big fans of “the Cowbell” and we reference it often off-camera. Of course it’s absurd, that’s the point.

So when I heard Walken was going to be in our studio to tape the interview with Jeffrey, I asked our stage manager “Brownie” to get him to do a personalized “Cowbell” for the O-Man. His response, which I think is hilarious by itself, was “Oh Brownie, there’s just too much cowbell out there right now.” He was serious.

In the end though he agreed to tape a little something (“Hey O-Man, we need more cowbell) provided we didn’t air it. We didn’t, but we had fun with it in the commercial breaks that morning. We still do from time to time.

Redress October 27, 2006

Rob Morrison, Anchor

If you’ve been reading our Blog this week, you know I’ve been following the story of the active duty military personnel who are petitioning Congress for the removal of all U.S. troops from Iraq. It’s the first protest of its kind during this war and it’s making national headlines.

Today, Seaman Jonathan Hutto, an active duty sailor, appeared on our show to state their case. You can watch the entire interview by clicking here.

Two things, notice he’s in civilian clothes (he explains why) and also notice his answer when I ask if he’s nervous about becoming “the face” of this movement. He’s walking a very fine line with this protest and he knows it.