I am not surprised that according to a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, Sen. Charles Schumers most recent favorable approval rating is down to 52 percent.
This represents his lowest approval ratings since May 2000.
Two reasons for these results.
One, like the cowardly lion from the Land of Oz, Schumer came out against the proposed treaty with Iran but with a wink and nod to President Obama refused to lobby his fellow senators in joining him to oppose the treaty.
Many Jewish and non Jewish friends of Israel are not happy with his abdication of leadership on this issue.
Two, since 1981 under Schumer’s watch as both a Congress member and senator our national debt went up by $17.4 trillion increasing from $1 trillion in 1981 to $18.4 trillion today.
No wonder Schumer never talks about this at his standard Sunday news conferences. It is nothing to be proud of.
Besides conservatives and Republicans, many main stream moderate Democrats and independent voters are not happy with his fiscal mismanagement of Washington.
Younger voters who will have to pay off this debt are especially displeased.
Schumer faced unknown Republican challengers with no name recognition, money or party support in 2004 (Howard Mills) and 2010 (Jay Townsend).
New York Republicans now have a surprising opportunity in 2016.
Given Schumer’s weakened poll numbers, perhaps a brave Republican candidate with both name recognition and the financial resources to offer a serious alternative will finally step forward to challenge him in 2016. It might make for an interesting contest as opposed to another Schumer coronation.
If New York Republicans give Schumer a free ride for the third time, he will be free to run around the nation in 2016 assisting other fellow Democrats running for the Senate.
Democrats only need a net pick up of five seats to regain control of the Senate.
Schumer will use his well oiled Pay for Play fund raising machine (he already has $20 million in the bank for his 2016 race with no announced opponent) to raise whatever it takes (be it $100 million or more) so he can become the Democratic Senate majority leader.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
