The Republican candidate for governor of New York was attacked at a campaign event outside Rochester by a man with a pointed weapon.
"U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for New York governor, is 'safe' following an attack at a campaign event Thursday evening in the state, his spokesperson said. 'Congressman Zeldin, Alison Esposito and all members of Team Zeldin are safe following tonight's attack', spokesperson Katie Vincentz tweeted Thursday. Zeldin was delivering a speech in Fairport, New York, when a man climbed on stage 'and attempted to stab' Zeldin, a statement from the campaign said. The GOP lawmaker 'grabbed the attacker's wrist to stop him until several others assisted in taking the attacker down to the ground', according to the statement. The congressman returned to the stage to finish his remarks after the alleged perpetrator was taken into custody, Zeldin's campaign said". -Paul LeBlanc, CNN
Quite the curious series of events. It almost appeared as though the attacker went to puncture Zeldin's throat, then changed his mind right before doing so.
Also, tremendous composure on the part of the gubernatorial candidate in the face of a startling and violent ambush. Even though, he should've immediately dropped the microphone out of his left hand and used both his arms to defend himself amid the skirmish.
In the past, Zeldin has spoken in support of implementing "stand your ground" laws in the Empire state if he were to defeat Kathy Hochul in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
The governor, on the other hand, looks to be up to her characteristic dirty tricks as it appears that a press release was sent out urging her supporters to “RSVP” to her Republican challenger's upcoming campaign stop.
"Hochul’s campaign sent out a press release just hours before the failed attack on Zeldin that blasted out the time and location of several of Zeldin campaign’s upcoming stops. Hochul claimed that Zeldin and his team would spread 'dangerous lies, misinformation, and his far-right agenda at these campaign events'. 'Big Lie Lee and his entourage of extremists kick off the statewide MAGA Republican Bus Tour, which will make stops across the state peddling dangerous lies, misinformation, and his far-right agenda', Hochul’s release read. The New York governor also claimed that Zeldin 'will be joined by top anti-abortion advocates, NRA enthusiasts, and a cast of extremist groups'”. -Jordan Dixon-Hamilton, Breitbart
If this welcome show of strength does anything to help swing the polls in his favor, so be it. His campaign will face an uphill battle against incumbent Hochul, including a seven-to-one fundraising disadvantage.
The Tebele family is one of the top donors to Hochul’s campaign, which has raised more than $34 million since she replaced Andrew Cuomo as New York’s governor.
Charlie Tebele and his wife Nancy each donated $69,700, the maximum an individual could give Hochul. On top of that, another five family members, including 2018 Syracuse University graduate Mathieu Tebele in his first-ever political donation, gave additional money, bringing the total to $300,000.
"Records also show that since December, Tebele's company was paid $637 million in taxpayer funds to provide the state Department of Health — an agency controlled by Hochul — with at-home COVID-19 test kits. The huge expenditure was made without the agency conducting competitive bidding.
Tebele is the longtime owner of Digital Gadgets LLC, a New Jersey-based wholesaler of hoverboards and other electronic devices that sells its wares to companies like the home shopping network QVC. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the company pivoted to supplying medical equipment, and began landing major government contracts in New York. Though Digital Gadgets has not always delivered as promised, it has continued to reap major government payments, while the family has kept donating heavily to select politicians.
The $637 million from the Department of Health began on December 30th, and the agency made 239 separate payments through March 25th to Tebele's company, according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's OpenBookNY website". -Christ Bragg, Times Union
As per usual, Hochul's pay-to-play hijinks are anything but subtle. Snollygosters like her deserve nothing more than to be made an example of and swiftly thrown out of office.
In direct contradiction to her political opponent, Hochul and her ilk of "limousine liberals" may actually merit a certain amount of menace from the general public, the likes of which Zeldin had personally received, as a means of sending these people an unmistakable message.