...with a prediction on outcome of 29 C.D. (Barend vs. Kuhl)?  Thanks...

This one's become nasty--anyone following it knows that--but does anyone "on the ground" have a report?  How's it going to turn out?

Friends tell me (and I've been able to access some of them from the web, and my friends are right) that the State Senator ("Shotgun Senator") Kuhl vs. Samara Barend race for Congress now features clever, clever, kinda damning ads from both sides---saturing this district.  How's it going to end up?  Is it really closer than what folks imagine?  Thanks....

...in Upstate NY's 29th C.D.?   I've never seen anything like this.  And now, the tv ads....whew.
Curious to get feedback--pro, con, could-care-less--from folks "on the ground."  Thanks.

I'm curious as to whether anyone else is following what has become an unlike-anything-I've-ever-seen "mud-fight" in NY's 29th Congressional District...the race between State Sen. Kuhl and Samara Barend?  You likely have read/heard about the "Shotgun Senator" story, which reached the NYTs and Newsday, even, but now Barend is much on the defensive and on-the-ropes and it looks as if the GOP will prevail, and easily.  Anyone closer to this?  What's the word-on-the-street in that district?  Thank you.

But not anymore.  So sad.   The "shotgun senator" will win 2-1, mark my words.  From the 10/26

Elmira "Star-Gazette":A slack campaign
- Candidate Barend has lost her credibility because of staffer's role in Kuhl controversy.
For the want of campaign dirt, a promising congressional campaign has been shattered for 29th District candidate Samara Barend. It was just about a year ago that the Vestal native moved into the district, positioning herself to run as a Democrat once Republican U.S. Rep. Amo Houghton stepped down.
She carried with her considerable credibility, built on her successful coordination of a pro-Interstate 86 coalition in the Southern Tier. Under 30, a professional female, two Ivy League degrees. Her star was rising. She had all the ingredients to bring a fresh perspective to a race for Houghton's seat.

For all she had going for her, Barend blundered badly the past few weeks by at first denying that her campaign had anything to do with the improper release of court-sealed divorce papers involving her opponent John R. Kuhl Jr.

Then she compounded that by telling this newspaper's editorial board that she had her campaign staff's "word of honor" that it wasn't involved. Finally, she failed to fire her campaign manager Jonah Siegellak, even after he admitted his complicity in the controversy on Friday and claimed Barend knew nothing about it.

Instead, she has reassigned him to other staff duties -- in other words a demotion -- and has spun the story back toward Kuhl claiming he had all the explaining to do for allegations in divorce papers that -- and Barend's campaign knows this -- traditionally are loaded with one-sided accusations.

As a result, Barend has allowed her credible candidacy to degenerate into a muddy campaign where voters in this race -- especially the undecideds -- are left no choice but to question her ability to manage a campaign and, by implication, the rigors of a congressional term.

Even if Barend were to fire Siegellak this week, in the days leading up to next Tuesday's election, the damage is done. Her failure to act quickly and decisively in righting this wrong suggests that the inmates are running the asylum at Barend headquarters.

This is not the Sam Barend who spoke on our editorial pages earlier this year. It is not the Sam Barend who appeared twice on "Twin Tiers Weekly" to talk sincerely about the issues.

It is not the Sam Barend who showed grace under fire when her primary opponent, Jeremy Alderson, launched a verbal assault on her during a joint television appearance. We don't know where that Sam Barend went. What we have now is a candidate whose strings are being yanked by campaign operatives who appear to want to win at any cost.

We don't believe that is the kind of campaign Barend intended, but on her watch, that is the kind of campaign she has permitted.

...has taken another twist.  Check-out the ROchester Democrat & CHronicle front-page story today that the Demo. candidate gave her lying Campaign Manager the choice of a demotion, or to be fired.  This is getting lost, though, as the Barend campaign continues to spiral downward.  

Far-fetched?  Under NYS Law, were Randy Kuhl to withdraw acceptance as the Republican Congressional candidate from NYS 29th, would there be "a committee on vacancies" or some sort of instrument whereby GOP leaders either could (A) Convince Amo to step back in for one, final two-year term--to restore harmony to the Southern Tier; or (B) Replace him with Mark Assini, the primary runnerup?  The "Rochester Democrat and Chronicle," no less, endorsed Randy's opponent today!!!  This Barend campaign continues to pick up steam...people are "fed up," I guess.