Go Home Hillary
Joe Karlya
They say if you can make it in New York, then you can make it anywhere. Hillary Clinton must believe this as she gears up for reelection to the Senate next year. It is practically common knowledge that Hillary has 2008 presidential ambitions, but such hopes could be dashed if New Yorkers throw her out of office in 2006.
Mrs. Clinton has a few Republican challengers who will give her a run for her money in the upcoming Senate race in New York. They include Jeanine Pirro, the current Westchester County District Attorney. Pirro has gained fame by working to stop sexual predators on the internet, as well as crimes of identity theft.
Also in the running is Edward Cox, the son-in-law of former President Richard Nixon. Cox has some in-roads within the state due to his work as a member of the State University of New York board of trustees.
Love her or hate her, Mrs. Clinton soundly defeated Rick Lazio in the 2000 Senate race. She garnered 55% of the vote.
What are Hillary's chances for defeat in next year's election? Early poll results from Marist University show Pirro gaining on Clinton even now. Undecided voters are expected to play a major role in the election.
New Yorkers may decide to elect a politician who is actually from New York to represent their state in the Senate. Perhaps they will even elect one who will not leave their post to run for President in two years. After all, this is not Massachusetts.
In another year, Hillary may have to pack her bags and head back to Arkansas- or wherever it is that she's from.
Joe Karlya is an elected New York Committeeman in Queens County, studying International Affairs at GW.