Young Republicans chide David Paterson for, among other things, not calling a special election to fill the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Eric Massa. The refrain is “screw you tax payer.” Which is something.
Paterson has said he has concerns about how much money it’ll cost to hold a special election, something he didn’t raise when he called a special election to fill the seat Kirsten Gillibrand vacated when she became senator.
Politically, Paterson is trying to help Democrats by calling the election near the general election, when Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic ticket, theoretically, will help the party keep Massa’s seat. In a special election. it’s more likely that Republicans will take the seat, since they have an edge in voter registration numbers in that district.
