Citizens Union signaled they’re putting some muscle behind their criticisms, and focusing not just on “on criticizing government, but changing it in Albany,” according to their executive director, Dick Dadey.

In a speech last night at the Pierre Hotel right off Central Park, Dadey said, “We need to end the responsibility-ducking, ethically challenged culture, campaign cash influenced, closed-door deliberations, special interest driven, decision-making process that passes for Democracy in Albany.”

The crowd, which included a few state lawmakers, like Liz Krueger, and Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, applauded.

Dadey went on, saying they would “mount a campaign of New Yorkers to change Albany.” And not just “take out a position” and “talk to the press” but rather they will “engage and mobilize New Yorkers like never before in a campaign to change Albany.”

“It will be a campaign that is focused no longer on criticizing government, but changing it in Albany,” he said.

Among Dadey's main complaints was gerrymandering, government transparency, and short-sighted fiscal policy-making.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whom the group endorsed for re-election, cracked a few jokes about judges breaking the Albany stalemate by affirming Richard Ravitch’s appointment as lieutenant governor.

“So, I guess that means we replaced three men in a room with seven judges in a room,” said Bloomberg, who referred to that as “judicial reform.” “Although, given the recent events in Albany, maybe judicial rule would be better.”

Former mayor Ed Koch said Citizens Union saved him from going to Albany when they backed his opponent in his race for Assembly.

“Had I won, I’d still be in Albany. Nobody ever throws those bums out,” he said.

This gives Aborn the backing of most of the elected officials--and both Democratic clubs--who have endorsed in the race, affording his campaign an opportunity for some purposeful chest-beating. In the press release announcing the Gottfried endorsement, they put quotes around the words "dark horse," to suggest incredulity. 

Certainly, Aborn's endorsements have raised his profile among reporters and political insiders, which is exactly what a campaign like his needs to be doing right now. But official endorsements notwithstanding, most of the major institutional players have yet to make up their minds about the race.

The Working Families Party, 1199 SEIU, and the teachers union--all organizations with real muscle in Democratic primaries--all haven't endorsed yet.

And then of course there's the Times endorsement--a real game-changer in a down-ballot Manhattan primary--which is still up for grabs, and which went to Leslie Crocker Snyder last time around.

The other candidate in the race, Cy Vance, has rolled out endorsements from Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and former mayor David Dinkins. He's also the preferred candidate of D.A. Robert Morgenthau.

"I think we have much better prospects this year, because there are identical bills in the Senate and Assembly," he said on the Assembly floor just now. The bill has been introduced in the Assembly for the last 13 years, and passed the last two years. I asked if the bill goes far enough, as some advocate.

"Well, there are people who are pretty hard-line against decriminalization who can support this," Gottfried said.

Certainly, it looks like he and Duane are trying to emphasize that support in particular. In addition to the two liberal Democrats, the following people are scheduled to speak at the press conference:

Joe Gamble of Liverpool, N.Y., a former Army paratrooper and commercial test pilot who suffers from multiple sclerosis and has found that medical marijuana relieves his constant pain more effectively than conventional medicines.

Joel Peacock, a Conservative Party member from Buffalo who could benefit from medical marijuana, if it were legal, to alleviate chronic pain from a 2001 car accident

Best as we can tell, these guys weren't invited.

Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said he hasn't taken a position on the bill and "looks forward to reviewing the bill and soliciting input from advocates both for and against."

Last night, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, whose reelection is a possibility the New York Times editorial board isn’t totally excited about, sought the endorsement of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club.

The most notable part of Gottfried’s pitch was that he mentioned the rule the Assembly enacted when Democrats took over the majority (in 1975!) that ensures that the sponsor of any bill can automatically have members vote on it during a committee hearing.

At about the three-minute mark, Gottfried is asked why, if that rule is enforced, the congestion pricing bill never came to a vote.

Gottfried sort of answers the question. I'm waiting to find out how the club voted on him, as well as Liz Krueger, Tom Duane and Jerry Nadler.