Joe Crowley has taken a different tact, using props to lambaste the G.O.P.'s budget's cuts. 

Take a look:

"I think what the White House does now is put more emphasis on what we've been doing all along, continuing to get the economy back into shape and create jobs," Crowley, a democrat, said in a brief telephone interview.

The passage of the health care bill, he said, will help reverse the public's unfavorable perception of congress.

"I think you saw a general malaise against congress recently," and that "people's opinion of congress had diminished substantially," he said. "But I think when we accomplish something of such substance and such a broad and historical content -- I think that really sparks something in people. I think in the end, what this is really going to be about is a congress that acted and did something as opposed to one failing and not being able to get it done."

Last Wednesday, he attended a $1,000-a-head fundraiser at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. According to a person who was there, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Joe Crowley, Nita Lowey and Scott Murphy all stopped by. (Senator Chuck Schumer had a scheduling conflict.) The event was headlined by Crowley, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chris Van Hollen and Representative Steve Israel, who is DCCC's principle liaison in New York.

"Whether it's other members of the Congressional delegation in New York when he visited us in Washington or his appearances in New York, he's an extremely impressive," Israel told me by phone. I asked him what he thought of Owens' chances.

"We are realistic, and we've said from day one that this district is notoriously independent. It has not elected a Democrat in that seat since the Civil War," he said. "But President Obama did win it, and this is the quintessential swing district. If bill continues to do what he's done over the past few weeks, then he can win this. And if the Republican and Conservative continue to batter each other, he's got a good shot."

Owens also stopped by Israel's fundraiser on Long Island, where Bill Clinton was the guest of honor. And earlier this month, Owens attended a fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden in Syracuse, at a law firm known for its union busting actions.

In the days since Representative Steve Israel decided not to consider a primary against Gillibrand, following calls from President Barack Obama and Senator Chuck Schumer, other members of the New York Congressional delegation have quickly lined up in support of Gillibrand: Nita Lowey, Maurice Hinchey, Brian Higgins, Michael McMahon, Yvette Clarke, John Hall, Michael Arcuri. Soon Nydia Velasquez and Ed Towns are expected to make their support public. Anthony Weiner is considered supportive, too.

"I think what is happening, with all due respect to them, is that when you begin to get a lot of calls of people saying we have got to put this to bed and this has to end, if they get a call from higher-ups in the party they succumb to that," said Serrano. "I understand that. I was there in the early days when you lose sleep over a phone call and you don't know what to do with it. Those days aren't there for me anymore. I've been in office for 35 years."

Serrano, who told Liz that he thinks Obama's White House acted like Tammany Hall in forcing out Israel, said that very few people in the delegation, including those who have endorsed her, are "jumping for joy" about the momentum building around her. He said he now counts himself with Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy as potential challengers to Gillibrand.

"Maloney told me she is running," added Serrano. "McCarthy is still waiting to see who doesn't run. And if the field narrows down to no one running, she may do it."

It is quite possible that Serrano has no intention of running, and that his last-ditch effort to cause trouble for Gillibrand is mostly motivated by his objection to the fact that no one has seen fit to take him seriously enough to call. ("I think he is genuinely hurt that he wasn't considered," said one member of the delegation.)  But either way, the fact that he is making these kinds of noises—just as the Gillibrand campaign is attempting to convey momentum in gaining support from the once-aggrieved House delegation—is not great news for the party leaders looking to avoid making the 2010 Senate race any more interesting than it already is.

"As the dean, I wish we didn't have a primary," said Representative Charlie Rangel, the dean of the New York Congressional delegation. "But having said that, I don't think it's up to me or anyone else what their political ambitions should be kept at just for the sake of unity. It's just not fair. I'm not going to tell them not to run."  

Rangel, one of the most senior officials in the House, said that he himself has received no pressure from Gillibrand's office, from Schumer or from the White House to support her, and he said that he would endorse Gillibrand if she ran unchallenged. He said he didn't know what he would do if there was a primary.

"It depends on if there is anyone running," he said.  "And I don't think there would be."

Gillibrand has actively sought to ensure that there isn't one, and has worked to convince some of her former critics, like Velasquez, that she is not as conservative as she was when she represented a mostly Republican district upstate.

But there are still holdouts. And Serrano said they are senior enough to resist even the strongest institutional pressures.

Several sources echoed Serrano's claims that state and national party leaders have aggressively sought to pressure members of the delegation to get behind Gillibrand, and expressed frustration with the White House for injecting itself into a state primary. Gillibrand's office, one Congressional source noted, has offered to help carry pet legislation or talk to senior administration officials in order to get one member's bills moved along.

"When Senator Gillibrand was in the House, then Senator Clinton was always willing to work with her on her priorities," said Gillibrand's spokesman, Matt Canter. "That's the kind of senator she plans to be."

The support Gillibrand most covets is that of liberal downstate representatives, who have thus far been reluctant to endorse. Their support would amount to a kosherizing effect on Gillibrand for many progressives wary of her past positions.

Perhaps first among that class of legislator is Representative Jerry Nadler, who is yet to support Gillibrand.

"You get Jerry Nadler's endorsement, that means a lot to a lot of people," Serrano said. "Jerry is one of the finest legislators and progressive voices we have."

In addition to Nadler and Israel, Eliot Engel, Joe Crowley, Gary Ackerman, Louise Slaughter, Eric Massa, Paul Tonko and Timothy Bishop, all Democrats, have still not endorsed.

"I don't think any of this matters to their reelection," said a member of the delegation, speaking on background. "And if she is successful, they'll reestablish a connection."

And, of course, there is Serrano, who holds a grudge against Gillibrand for her past positions on immigration and what he considers the "botched" way in which she was appointed.

 "We don't have a relationship," he said.

"It was a very quick phone call," he said. "I always appreciate being reached out to by people who are interested in jobs in the state of New York."

He was asked about her qualifications, and replied, "I don't think she's unqualified."

Asked what role her family ties could play, he said "we're all a product of our upbringing in different ways. Would I be who I am today without my uncle Walter Crowley or without my father? So who knows. I don't begrudge her for that."

Crowley also said that Representatives Steve Israel and Carolyn Maloney have reached out to him. Kennedy also contacted Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

David Paterson - who has the ultimate authority to make the appointment - said he hasn't spoken with Kennedy recently.

With newly minted House Democratic Caucus vice chair Xavier Becerra widely seen as likely to accept an offer to serve as U.S. trade representative in the Obama White House, Crowley is poised to enter the race to replace Becerra at the Democratic leadership table, sources close to Crowley said Wednesday.

“If Becerra accepts the job and moves into the administration, Crowley’s definitely in,” said one Democratic aide with knowledge of Crowley’s plans.

A Crowley candidacy could set up a battle for the vice chair slot against Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who a spokesman today said was actively considering a bid.

“The congresswoman will continue to work on behalf of the Democratic caucus and is considering a run for vice chair,” said Jonathan Beeton, communications director for Wasserman Schultz.

Crowley, a fifth-term congressman from Elmhurst, passed on a run for the vice chair position last month after sitting vice chair John Larson vacated the slot to wage a successful bid for the caucus chair position. Crowley had been urged to run by some of the party’s more moderate members. Becerra, however, had the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a close ally.

Wasserman Schultz is seen as something of an up-and-comer in the House, having served as chief deputy whip in her second term. She has played a key role at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where she chaired the “Frontline” program to protect vulnerable incumbents.

Despite media reports to the contrary, a spokeswoman for Becerra today declined to say if the eight- term California congressman had received or was mulling an offer from Obama to join his administration.

“There are all kinds of reports out there and they are all rumors,” said Becerra spokeswoman Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampoli.

Aside from Crowley and Wasserman Schultz, there is talk that Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek could join the race for vice chair should the seat open up. Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who lost the vice chairmanship to Becerra in a long shot bid, is also seen as a likely contender.

A senior Crowley aide said today that the congressman has informed Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee executive director Brian Wolff that he would not be seeking the DCCC chairmanship for the 2010 cycle.

Crowley, who as head of the DCCC’s business council is responsible for the committee’s outreach to the business community, has long been mentioned as one of a handful of potential DCCC chairpersons.

Wolff is seen in Capitol Hill circles as close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is charged with selecting the incoming chair.

“Congressman Crowley hopes to always be engaged in the Democratic caucus, to keep, maintain and expand our majority. But he is not looking to be chair of the DCCC this cycle,” said the senior aide.

The aide noted that Crowley has made it clear to senior DCCC leadership that would be willing to play a role at the committee next cycle in an official or unofficial capacity.

Crowley, serving his fifth term in the House, failed in a 2006 bid for party leadership when he ran for Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. That has not kept him from fund-raising prodigiously for his party this cycle. To date, he has raised about $1.6 million for vulnerable incumbent and freshman members of the caucus.

Sitting DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland congressman, has not said whether he will seek to head up the committee for a second cycle.
Potential successors to Van Hollen include Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Kendrick Meek of Florida and Bruce Braley of Iowa.

Most petition challenges come from supporters of a rival candidate, not the rival candidate himself. 

If successful, he could prevent her from getting on the ballot, which would make him the de facto assemblyman in the heavily Democratic Jackson Heights district.

Den Dekker, whose wife works for Representative Joe Crowley, the Democratic county leader, got the party’s backing after Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette abruptly declined to run for re-election.

Den Dekker did not immediately return a message left on his voice mail.

About halfway through, Powell says, “We’ve lost our backbone.” He adds later, “A lot of us have become spineless Democrats.”

Towns voted against FISA.

In case you’re wondering, Democratic members of Congress from New York who supported FISA include Tim Bishop and Carolyn McCarthy of Long Island; Gary Ackerman, Greg Meeks and Joe Crowley of Queens; Eliot Engel of the Bronx; Nita Lowey of Westchester; Kirsten Gillibrand of Albany; and upstate's Mike Arcuri and Brian Higgins.

Stoller also praises Powell for trying to build a multi-racial coalition. "Powell was more explicit about this than anyone I've seen in politics, on the record," he said.

The seat, which opened up when Katherine Harris decided to run for Senate, was ultimately won by Vern Buchanan and now Jennings is mounting another challenge.

The invitation lists Charlie Rangel, Carolyn Maloney, Joe Crowley and Jerry Nadler for the June 13 event, which takes place on Central Park West.