Analysis: The politics of endorsements By Robert J. McCarthy News Political Reporter Oct 3, 2021 Oct 3, 2021 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The big contest for mayor of Buffalo is prompting strange days in our politics.kAm(96? x?5:2 (2=E@? DEF??65 E96 A@=:E:42= H@C=5 3J 5CF33:?8 7@FC\E6C> :?4F>36?E qJC@? qC@H? 324< :? yF?6[ :E E@@< @?=J 2 76H 9@FCD 7@C C62=:EJ E@ D6E :?] ~?6 3J @?6[ E96 >2;@C 7:8FC6D @7 E96 tC:6 r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ 3682? H6:89:?8 :?]k^AmkAm“x?5:2 (2=E@? H@? E96 AC:>2CJ[” E96J D2:5] “$96 :D E96 ?@>:?66 @7 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ] x DFAA@CE 96C]”k^AmkAm%96J :?4=F565 $E2E6 $6?] $62? #J2?[ r92:C>2? y6C6>J +6==?6C[ tC:6 r@F?EJ {68:D=2EFC6 r92:CH@>2? pAC:= q2D<:? 2?5 pDD6>3=J>2? y@? #:G6C2[ 2>@?8 @E96CD] $@>6 =:<6 +6==?6C[ 925 E@ A:C@F6EE6 27E6C :?:E:2==J W2?5 H:E9@FE 2 H9@=6 =@E @7 6?E9FD:2D>X DFAA@CE:?8 E96 >2J@C]k^Am People are also reading… Saltville takes step toward transforming Hartwood property into gateway Marion Senior High grad claims top state art award Communities rally to support officer injured in the line of duty Privacy laws prevent Smyth school board from commenting on parent allegations Smyth Animal Rescue's Pet of the Week is fun loving and ready for his next adventure Broady to present program to help instill Martin Luther King's clarity, courage Smyth County School Board honors Chilhowie businessman Health Commission analysis finds Smyth hospital 'at risk of closure' Virginia budget leaders reach 'agreement in principle' for deal Smyth County deputy saves man's life Smyth County undertakes groundwork to prepare for potential data center interest These brands pulled back on Pride. It could cost them. Here's why 36 Million Small Businesses Are Quietly Fighting the Same Battle Norovirus spreads among Appalachian Trail hikers in Virginia Smyth commissioner hosts drive-through high-mileage recording event kAm~?=J 2 92?57F= @7 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D – r@>AEC@==6C q2C32C2 |:==6C\(:==:2>D 2?5 r@F?4:= |6>36CD r9C:D $42?=@?[ y@6 v@=@>36< 2?5 &=JDD6D (:?8@ – DE@@5 H:E9 qC@H? 2 76H 52JD 27E6C E96 AC:>2CJ E@ DFAA@CE 9:D F?AC64656?E65 HC:E6\:? 42?5:524J]k^AmkAm$F556?=J[ E96 >2J@C @7 }6H *@C<’D D64@?5 =2C86DE 4:EJ 3642>6 2 =@?6=J 7:8FC6] %9:D :D E96 D2>6 >2J@C H9@ D6CG65 2D 7@C>6C v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@’D A@H6C7F= DE2E6 s6>@4C2E:4 492:C>2?] qFE[ @9 J629 – rF@>@ :D 8@?6[ E@@]k^AmkAm}@H (2=E@? :D 3F@J65 3J DFAA@CE 7C@> 3:8 =@42= ?2>6D H9@ 2 76H >@?E9D 28@ H@F=5 ?@E C64@8?:K6 96C @? E96 DEC66E] p?5 }6H *@C< r:EJ EJA6D[ D@>6 H:E9 DE2E6H:56 2>3:E:@?D[ 8:G6 96C 6?92?465 4C65:3:=:EJ] %92E’D H9J E96:C 7F?5C2:D6CD 96=5 E9C@F89@FE E96 q:8 %@H? =2DE H66< 2C6 566>65 D@ :>A@CE2?E] (2=E@? DFAA@CE6CD =:<6 !F3=:4 p5G@42E6 yF>22?6 (:==:2>D 2?5 $E2E6 $6?] |:<6 v:2?2C:D[ H9@ 2EE6?565 2?5 6G6? 4@\DA@?D@C65 E96 6G6?ED[ =@@> 2D >2;@C 7:8FC6D :? E96 DE2E6 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ]k^Am kAm%96? E96C6 2C6 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 E2<6? ?@ A@D:E:@?] %96J :?4=F56 pDD6>3=J |2;@C:EJ {6256C rCJDE2= !6@A=6D\$E@<6D[ 2 =@?8E:>6 qC@H? 2==Jj v@G] z2E9J w@49F=[ 2?@E96C =@?8E:>6 qF772=@ 4@>C256j @C DE2E6 r92:C>2? y2J y24@3D]k^AmkAmx?5665[ E96 }6H *@C< %:>6D C6A@CE65 =2DE H66< E92E (:==:2>D[ H9@ 92D 7@C>65 2 4@>>:EE66 E@ 6IA=@C6 2 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42?5:524J[ 92D 4C:E:4:K65 w@49F= 7@C ?@E G@42==J DFAA@CE:?8 (2=E@?]k^AmkAm%9:D 2== 364@>6D C6=6G2?E 3642FD6 H96? 2== E96 42DE G@E6D 2?5 HC:E6\:? 32==@ED 2C6 E2==:65[ D@>6@?6 H:== 36 =67E @? E96 @FED:56 =@@<:?8 :?] }@3@5J AC65:4ED 2 =2?5D=:56 6=64E:@? 6:E96C H2J WE9@F89 2?JE9:?8 42? 92AA6?X[ D@ E9@D6 49@@D:?8 D:56D 2C6 E2<:?8 2 C:D<] (:== qC@H? C63@F?5[ H:? E96 7:7E9 E6C> 249:6G65 3J ?@ >2J@C :? qF772=@ 9:DE@CJ 2?5 C6:8? DFAC6>6n (92E 92AA6?D E96? E@ E96 7@C>6C 7C:6?5D H9@ 56D6CE65 9:> 2?5 7=@4<65 E@ (2=E@?nk^Am kAm~C H:== (2=E@? 6DE23=:D9 2 ?6H @C56C :? qF772=@[ 46>6?E:?8 96C 56>@4C2E:4 D@4:2=:D> 2D E96 7FEFC6 2?5 D6CG:?8 ?@E:46 E92E 96C H2J :D ?@H 2 H:??:?8 H2Jn p 76H s6>D H:== 92G6 E@ 86E H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>]k^AmkAmxE H:== 36 :?E6C6DE:?8 :? 4@>:?8 52JD E@ D66 :7 3@E9 42>A2:8?D C@== @FE >@C6 6?5@CD6>6?ED] qC@H? 42>A D@FC46D 9:?E E96J 2C6 4@>:?8] p?5 D@>6 D@ 72C D:=6?E r@F?4:= >6>36CD D66> C:A6 7@C (2=E@?’D A:4<:?8]k^AmkAms@ 6?5@CD6>6?ED >62? 2?JE9:?8n |@DE 42>A2:8? G6E6C2?D D2J E92E’D 5F3:@FD[ 6G6? 2D 6G6CJ 42?5:52E6 D66<D 2 3:8 ?2>6 E@ DE2?5 2=@?8D:56 E96> 7@C 42>6C2D] qFE :? E9:D F?:BF6 6=64E:@?[ E96 3=6DD:?8 @7 E96 A@=:E:42= H@C=5’D <?@H? 4@>>@5:E:6D >2J 24EF2==J AC@G6 <6J]k^Am kAmx? 2?J 6G6?E – E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6?]k^AmkA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQm•••k^AmkAm• qC@H?’D 72:=FC6 E@ 82:? 2 =2E6 6?ECJ[ >:?@C A2CEJ =:?6 W?:I65 3J 2AA6==2E6 4@FCEDX >2J AC@G6 2 3=6DD:?8 :? 5:D8F:D6] tG6? 2D 9:D 42>A2:8? 7=@@565 E96 4:EJ H:E9 “(C:E6 s@H? qJC@? qC@H?” D:8?D[ DFAA@CE6CD @7 E96 >2J@C >:89E DE:== 92G6 366? 4@?7FD65] %92E’D 3642FD6 HC:E6\:? G@E6D 7@C 2?J@?6 2=C625J 2AA62C:?8 @? 2 32==@E =:?6 2C6 ?@E 4@F?E65] xE >:89E 92G6 2== C6DF=E65 :? >2;@C 32==@E 4@?7FD:@?]k^Am kAmpE =62DE E96 qC@H? 42>A2:8? H@?’E 92G6 E@ C6EC:6G6 E9@FD2?5D @7 “(C:E6 s@H? qJC@? qC@H?” D:8?D]k^Am kAm• (2E49 7@C E96 qC@H? 42>A2:8? E@ D@@? =2F?49 2 >2;@C 2?5 :?6G:E23=6 65F42E:@? 4@>A@?6?E[ :?DECF4E:?8 G@E6CD :? 6I24E HC:E6\:? AC@465FC6D] (C:E6\:? G@E:?8 >2J D66> D:>A=6[ 3FE :E C6>2:?D E96 >2J@C’D 3:886DE 492==6?86]k^AmkAmp?5 E92E’D H9J 42?5:52E6D DEC:G6 E@ H:? AC:>2C:6D 2?5 2AA62C @? E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? 32==@E]k^Am 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Election 2021: Buffalo mayor Early voting begins Oct. 23, and Election Day is Nov. 2. Buffalo voters will either write down Byron Brown's name and vote him in for an unpre… Analysis: WNY gets the AOC treatment Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez followed a victory path similar to India Walton’s. Jumaane Williams inches toward run for governor in 2022 The 2022 campaign for governor of New York is beginning to take shape. India Walton: My five-point plan will build a healthier city for all I’ll never forget the Tuesday when a group of sisters came to me with head lice. Byron Brown: Investment in Buffalo’s revival must not come to a halt When I took office as Buffalo’s mayor in 2006, I promised to work to revitalize our city, build a safer, smarter, stronger Buffalo and ensure … Ethics complaint filed over officers in Byron Brown campaign ad A Buffalo attorney and 138 others have complained to the city's Board of Ethics that a television ad sponsored by Mayor Byron Brown's re-elect… In Buffalo's race for mayor, will blue-collar Democrats embrace India Walton's democratic socialism? Buffalo emerges as a laboratory for Walton's political viability in a campaign capturing national attention.
Election 2021: Buffalo mayor Early voting begins Oct. 23, and Election Day is Nov. 2. Buffalo voters will either write down Byron Brown's name and vote him in for an unpre…
Analysis: WNY gets the AOC treatment Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez followed a victory path similar to India Walton’s.
Jumaane Williams inches toward run for governor in 2022 The 2022 campaign for governor of New York is beginning to take shape.
India Walton: My five-point plan will build a healthier city for all I’ll never forget the Tuesday when a group of sisters came to me with head lice.
Byron Brown: Investment in Buffalo’s revival must not come to a halt When I took office as Buffalo’s mayor in 2006, I promised to work to revitalize our city, build a safer, smarter, stronger Buffalo and ensure …
Ethics complaint filed over officers in Byron Brown campaign ad A Buffalo attorney and 138 others have complained to the city's Board of Ethics that a television ad sponsored by Mayor Byron Brown's re-elect…
In Buffalo's race for mayor, will blue-collar Democrats embrace India Walton's democratic socialism? Buffalo emerges as a laboratory for Walton's political viability in a campaign capturing national attention.
