The New York State Assembly has long been controlled by Democrats, and the Senate by Republicans. A few years ago, a pretty good "progressive" Dem Senator, Eric Schneiderman, was running the Senate campaign, and wanted to take control of the house. The Dem leadership didn't like his aggressiveness, and essentially deposed him. So now, with the Dems almost certain to win the governorship, in the person of Elliot Spitzer, taking control of the Senate would mean total party control of the state government. But Spitzer doesn't want the party to take the Senate, and they're making no special effort to do so. Why? Apparently Spitzer is afraid that a Dem-controlled legislature would overspend, and reduce the governor's power. Cuomo, that great liberal icon, felt the same way.
What a party, eh?
Doug