The Capitol Connection on WAMC

Albany, NY – Alan talks to John Hall, co-founder of the band Orleans and writer of the hit songs Still the One and Dance With Me. Hall is running for Congress in New York's 19th congressional district against Republican incumbent Sue Kelly. The race is receiving national attention as one of the races being focused on by Democrats eager to take control of the lower house. Hall, a longtime activist and a former county legislator, talks about his feelings on his opponent's 12-year record and his call for a moonshot program for energy independence.

Albany, NY – Alan Chartock talks to State Senator Ray Meier of New York's 47th district. Meier, a Republican, is running to replace retiring Congressman Sherwood Sherry Boehlert of New York's 24th congressional district. The race is one of several House seats receiving national coverage as Democrats try to regain control of Congress' lower house. Meier talks about his identification with Boehlert, his popularity in the district and the bread-and-butter issues he feels are most important to his constituents.

Albany, NY – Alan Chartock talks to Lee Miringoff, director of Marist's Institute for Public Opinion, home of the nationally-utilized Marist poll. With the New York State primaries coming up next week, Alan and Lee discuss who the likely voters will be, what their demographics are and why Senator Hillary Clinton is faring better than her colleague in Connecticut, Joe Lieberman.

Albany, NY – Alan Chartock talks to Richard Mills, New York State's education commissioner. Alan asks him about a recent report from the education department that rated an additional 17 schools in the state persistently dangerous. Other educational issues in the interview include the difficulties in getting experienced teachers into troubled schools, programs to aid outside professionals with a desire to teach, and the need for greater accountability in school leadership.

Albany, NY – This week's show is particularly lively, as Alan Chartock talks to Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. Suozzi, who's challenging Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, talks about the distinctions between him and the popular attorney general, the problems he's faced fundraising, their recent debate in New York City and Spitzer's failure to reform Medicaid.

Albany, NY – On this week's Capitol Connection Alan Chartock talks to Joe Caruso, director of polling for the Siena Research Institute. The institute just released this week its latest New York Poll, which consulted more than 600 registered New York voters and asked them their thoughts on Eliot Spitzer, the competitive race for attorney general and Hillary Clinton's chances in a 2008 presidential run. Alan and Joe also talk about the ins and outs of the polling process and whether they can affect elections directly.

Albany, NY – Alan Chartock talks to Howie Hawkins, the Green Party's choice to challenge U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton in this year's election. Hawkins, a co-founder of the party and longtime political activist, talks to Alan about the chances for an anti-war campaign, his advice to anti-war Democrats and the current conflicts between Israel, Hamas and Hizbollah.

Albany, NY – Alan Chartock talks to former Westchester district attorney Jeanine Pirro, the Republican candidate for state attorney general. Alan questions her about her fund-raising efforts and her recent ads and statements that compare her to current attorney general Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat. Pirro also talks about her ranking in the polls compared to one of her possible Democratic rivals for the job, Andrew Cuomo. She even shares her thoughts on the quality of the press' coverage of her personal life.