Looking Forward To Primary Campaign In NYS

Right now I'm actually looking forward to the Presidential Primary in NYS. Not sure that will be the case after two weeks of TV ads and wall to wall coverage but we'll see. Initially all of the emphasis seems to be on New York City, recognizing it as the metropolis and media capital that it is although I'm pretty certain that will change.

With all of the serious issues that are facing us nationally, it will be interesting to see how all of them play out in New York State. NewYork Values have been raised as both a negative and a positive. Bernie, Donald and Hillary will have something to say about that I'm sure and Ted Cruz will have some explaining to do. The reality is that NYS has it all when it comes to issues. There are Finger Lakes Wines vs Trump Wines. Documented workers and undocumented workers who provide a labor force for many of the agricultural operations in NYS is sure to be an issue. Manufacturing continues as a dream for many upstate communities. Perhaps Donald Trump will identify where his factory for tie manufacturing will be sited during the primary here, as he brings back jobs from China. The new NYS law increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, below Westchester County over the next few years and above Westchester County over a greater time period  (so really not an increase to $15/hr) will be referenced as either manna from heaven or a scourge. It's most likely neither.

If and when the candidates and the entourage of campaign staffers as well as national media travel upstate they will be faced with a number of challenges. First and foremost, pronouncing the names of the counties and cities, towns and villages that they find themselves visiting or traveling through. Places like Canandaigua, Skaneateles, Canajoharie, Cattaraugus, and Onondaga. Perhaps they're already studying to see if they can name all 11 of the Finger Lakes (or is it 10 or 12?). They will also have to learn how to navigate around all of the 'Repeal The Safe Act' signs and worse yet, try to figure out how to defend it or rail against it.

The easy way out is to just stay in New York City and its Boroughs or to follow the NYS Thruway Trail and stop in Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. But where's the fun in that and more to the point, how does that get them close to all of those real people who make up the collage of New York State - the poor, the wealthy, the farmers, the immigrants, transplants, entrepreneurs, hunters, etc.

The biggest challenge is probably for Ted Cruz. I'm not sure New Yorkers will understand why he smirks or laughs at himself after each sentence even though we tend to smirk and laugh after each of his sentences. I think John Kasich will be welcomed as a neighbor and respected for his working class background or as he says, the little engine that could. New Yorkers tend to like the little guy or the underdog. And then there's Donald.  Of course as New Yorkers we take less offense to Donald Trump calling us and everyone else stupid and dumb and incompetent. We just yell it back at him. His rallies should be interesting. Of course Bernie and Hillary tear us apart. Our brains and hearts explode in conflict as we listen to each of them - a woman and an old socialist. Conflicts, conflicts everywhere.

Two weeks may be too long. We'll see.