Long Island GOP Targets Gun Foe McCarthy
By Suzanne Dougherty
Congressional Quarterly
Wednesday, April 19, 2000
Propelled into politics by the gun control issue after her family was shattered by a spree killer, Democrat Carolyn McCarthy ousted one-term Republican Rep. Daniel Frisa in 1996 by an astounding 17 percentage-point margin. An overwhelming 1998 re-election in New York's 4th District seemed assured after NBC broadcast a TV movie based on McCarthy's dramatic life story.
So when Republican state Rep. Greg Becker surprised by coming within 6 percentage points of her in the election two years ago, it got Long Island Republican strategists thinking that McCarthy was not yet entrenched in her Republican-leaning district – and got Becker seeking a rematch this year.
The result may be another closely contested race. Congressional Quarterly currently ranks the race in the competitive "Leans Democratic" category.
Healing Through Politics
McCarthy is a former nurse who says she used to regularly vote Republican before her life drastically changed in 1993.
It was then that a crazed gunman opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train. Among the victims were McCarthy's husband, who was killed, and her son, who was seriously injured.
That tragedy spurred her to become an ardent supporter of stricter gun control laws. And when the conservative Frisa, elected as part of the huge Republican House Class of 1994, voted with most of his colleagues for a provision to repeal a ban on certain semiautomatic firearms, McCarthy jumped to the Democratic Party – and into congressional politics.
Her victory over Frisa placed the southwestern Long Island constituency in Democratic hands for the first time in more than 40 years. Historically considered a stronghold for Nassau County's long-dominant GOP organization, the 4th is home to many wealthy suburbanites and Wall Street commuters.
Overall voter registration does continue to heavily favor Republicans, but there is a minority population - the largest of any Long Island district - that gives Democrats a base to draw upon. In addition, voters in the 4th backed Bill Clinton in both of his presidential bids, overwhelmingly so in 1996.
The issue of gun control appears to have majority support in the 4th, which has helped McCarthy in both of her election bids. And it may sustain her this year, despite her lack of success in getting gun control measures passed by the Republican-controlled House.
"No, she hasn't been able to effectively legislate, but it helps her make a case for why she needs to be re-elected and why there needs to be a Democratic majority in Congress," said New York pollster John Zogby. "If there is a Democratic majority and a Gore presidency, then she would become a seasoned leader on something that happens to be important to her constituency."
However, Becker contends that McCarthy's overall record is not conservative enough for the district. "Her record on taxes is dismal," contended the challenger. "And when you look at the impact that has had on the taxpayer in Nassau County, you see that she is there doing the business of Washington and not the business of families of the 4th District."
Becker attributed his loss in 1998 to poor planning and a late start, factors he said he has avoided this year.
McCarthy's team, however, is confident that the incumbent can again thwart Becker.
"She is 1,000 times more ready than she was two years ago. She wasn't a politician then and wasn't focusing on the campaign because she was too busy focusing on becoming a congresswoman for the first time," said Jim Messina, McCarthy's chief of staff.
© 2000 Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
By Suzanne Dougherty
Congressional Quarterly
Wednesday, April 19, 2000
Propelled into politics by the gun control issue after her family was shattered by a spree killer, Democrat Carolyn McCarthy ousted one-term Republican Rep. Daniel Frisa in 1996 by an astounding 17 percentage-point margin. An overwhelming 1998 re-election in New York's 4th District seemed assured after NBC broadcast a TV movie based on McCarthy's dramatic life story.
So when Republican state Rep. Greg Becker surprised by coming within 6 percentage points of her in the election two years ago, it got Long Island Republican strategists thinking that McCarthy was not yet entrenched in her Republican-leaning district – and got Becker seeking a rematch this year.
The result may be another closely contested race. Congressional Quarterly currently ranks the race in the competitive "Leans Democratic" category.
Healing Through Politics
McCarthy is a former nurse who says she used to regularly vote Republican before her life drastically changed in 1993.
It was then that a crazed gunman opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train. Among the victims were McCarthy's husband, who was killed, and her son, who was seriously injured.
That tragedy spurred her to become an ardent supporter of stricter gun control laws. And when the conservative Frisa, elected as part of the huge Republican House Class of 1994, voted with most of his colleagues for a provision to repeal a ban on certain semiautomatic firearms, McCarthy jumped to the Democratic Party – and into congressional politics.
Her victory over Frisa placed the southwestern Long Island constituency in Democratic hands for the first time in more than 40 years. Historically considered a stronghold for Nassau County's long-dominant GOP organization, the 4th is home to many wealthy suburbanites and Wall Street commuters.
Overall voter registration does continue to heavily favor Republicans, but there is a minority population - the largest of any Long Island district - that gives Democrats a base to draw upon. In addition, voters in the 4th backed Bill Clinton in both of his presidential bids, overwhelmingly so in 1996.
The issue of gun control appears to have majority support in the 4th, which has helped McCarthy in both of her election bids. And it may sustain her this year, despite her lack of success in getting gun control measures passed by the Republican-controlled House.
"No, she hasn't been able to effectively legislate, but it helps her make a case for why she needs to be re-elected and why there needs to be a Democratic majority in Congress," said New York pollster John Zogby. "If there is a Democratic majority and a Gore presidency, then she would become a seasoned leader on something that happens to be important to her constituency."
However, Becker contends that McCarthy's overall record is not conservative enough for the district. "Her record on taxes is dismal," contended the challenger. "And when you look at the impact that has had on the taxpayer in Nassau County, you see that she is there doing the business of Washington and not the business of families of the 4th District."
Becker attributed his loss in 1998 to poor planning and a late start, factors he said he has avoided this year.
McCarthy's team, however, is confident that the incumbent can again thwart Becker.
"She is 1,000 times more ready than she was two years ago. She wasn't a politician then and wasn't focusing on the campaign because she was too busy focusing on becoming a congresswoman for the first time," said Jim Messina, McCarthy's chief of staff.
© 2000 Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
