Behind every powerful politician is a top adviser. Behind every successful campaign is a key consultant. Behind every piece of landmark legislation is a well-connected lobbyist. These influential figures often stay behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. But in this special edition we pull back the curtain on the state’s most influential political 
While much of the Republican Party has been pushing Missouri Rep. Todd Akin to drop out of his U.S. Senate race after his controversial comments about rape, Wendy Long, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New York, has continued to stop short of saying Akin should step aside. “If I had been in his 
Eliot Spitzer needs no introduction. Since resigning as governor in March 2008, Spitzer has reemerged as a contributor to Slate magazine, an adjunct professor of political science at City College, and a television news commentator first for CNN and now for Current TV. Most recently he joined NY1′s Inside City Hall as one of the 
Brad Hoylman, a candidate for the seat to be vacated by state Sen. Tom Duane, faced questions last night from Democratic primary opponents about his former job at the Partnership for New York City, a pro-business group where he was a vice president and general counsel. At a 27th Senate District debate, one candidate,Tom Greco, asked Hoylman 
Last Friday, a “zombie flash mob” demonstrated against Sony near Union Square, calling for changes in healthcare access for workers and criticizing one of the technology giant’s contractors. The union 32BJ, which planned the event, distributed a press release claiming that “Sony zombifies workers by dealing with irresponsible contractors!” A Sony spokesperson did not immediately 
In 2008, when Marc LaVorgna first met with Mayor Michael Bloomberg about joining his press office, the mayor had one request: “Don’t f— it up.” “I was shell-shocked,” LaVorgna said. “I didn’t know that he says that to everybody, but at that moment I was completely shell-shocked. I didn’t know what to say. He just 
This week, New York politics ran the gamut from international (StanChart) to gastrointestinal (yogurt summit). Somewhere in between were some polls, some puns and some pundits, ensuring healthy doses in equal measure of both winners, and their unhappy counterparts, the losers. WINNERS Darrel Aubertine – The Cuomo administration invited a dairy-themed joke-apalooza thanks to this week’s inaugural 
2013 Mayoral Race The Post is attempting to lure Bill Bratton into the mayoral race. Christine Quinn would accept money from StudentsFirstNY. State Senate Bob Cohen’s GOP primary challenger was officially thrown off the ballot. Conservative Republican Sean Hanna is trying to tie himself to Gov. Cuomo. Bronx One of Naomi Rivera’s challengers is touting 
Michael Bocamazo reports: A coalition of union, parent, and community groups, New Yorkers for Great Public Schools, held a rally today in front of the New York Department of Education and released a report on the alleged connections between the pro-charter school group StudentsFirst and the Mitt Romney presidential campaign. The press conference was an 
How well known are the current crop of Democratic New York City mayoral candidates? A poll conducted last week by Global Strategies Group for the Chelsea Market Coalition, which is advocating for the expansion of Manhattan’s Chelsea Market, had some surprising results. According to the poll, which sampled 600 Democratic primary voters citywide, Council Speaker Christine 
