I On Politics
Baldeo Quits Race vs. Addabbo, GOP Leader Howls
      In a move that vastly improves Democratic City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo's (D-Howard Beach) chances of unseating incumbent Republican state Senator Serphin Maltese in November's election in Queens' 15th Senate District, Jamaica attorney Albert J. Baldeo last week withdrew from the district's Democratic primary election against Addabbo.
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Gennaro Opens Campaign HQ In Flushing
     On August 23, City Councilmember James Gennaro, candidate for the 11th Senate District, held a reception for volunteers and donors celebrating the grand opening of new campaign headquarters in Flushing. The new office became necessary to accommodate the growing "Jim Gennaro Democrat for State Senate" campaign. Joining Gennaro (c.) at the reception were (l. to r.) Assemblymember Rory Lancman, District Leader Honey Miller, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith, as well as volunteers and donors from various sections of Northeast Queens. The councilmember, also campaigning in College Point, met with supporters there to discuss the campaign. On August 22, Gennaro officially announced his senatorial candidacy using a YouTubeTM video at his Web site www.jimgennaro.com, and launched his presence on the popular social networking Web site FaceBook.
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'09 Mayoral Hopefuls Insist On Public Vote If Bloomy Pushes 'Term' Changes
BY JOHN TOSCANO
      With their plans to run for mayor next year possibly being upset by a change in the term limits law, Congressmember Anthony Weiner and city Comptroller William Thompson have called for the matter to be settled, if necessary, by the voters.
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Ackerman At Democratic Convention
     Congressmember Gary Ackerman with state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (of Great Neck), Nassau County Congressmember Carolyn McCarthy and June O'Neill, chair of the New York State Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention in Denver,
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Huge Crowd Expected For Obama's Convention Finale
BY JOHN TOSCANO
      Don't look for balloons to cascade from the ceiling when Barack Obama completes his acceptance speech Thursday evening and a ballroom erupts in frenzied excitement as the Democratic convention draws to a close. These familiar images will not be seen as history is made when for the first time an African American becomes a major political party's presidential nominee.
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Few Local GOP'ers Headed For Convention, But Party Leaders Excited About McCain
      BY JOHN TOSCANO Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who earlier this year was looking forward to being the star of the Republican National Convention, which opens in Minneapolis on Monday, September 1, will instead have the role of keynote speaker in the four-day political fest which will conclude with John McCain accepting his party's presidential nomination.
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