Before he began advocating for higher taxes for the poor and middle class, 2012 GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain headed up the National Restaurant Association. Sure, that group may have worked hand in hand to further the interests of the tobacco lobby, but at least Cain didn't do anything actually illegal, just morally reprehensible. But today, Politico reveals that the trade group was forced to settle two different complaints against Cain for "inappropriate behavior." Sounds like someone needs an electric fence around their groin. more ›

Ron Paul, fierce defender of liberty (there are exceptions!) is having a tough time distinguishing himself from the rest of the GOP field before tonight's debate in Las Vegas. So yesterday, Paul released his "bold, ambitious, Plan To Restore America" [pdf] that would eliminate $1 trillion in government spending his first year in office. Man, weren't things great before the Department of Education, the Department of Energy in the late 70s? more ›

David Byrne has been entangled in a lawsuit against former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who The Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere" in a web campaign video without permission. Crist, and the production company that made the spot, have now apologized and the case has been settled (the financial terms of the settlement are confidential). Crist has released a (soundtrack-free) video apology (watch below), and Byrne says: more ›

You guys know what would be sick? Imagine chillin' in Central Park with thousands upon thousands of strangers when all of a sudden everything goes into slow motion and Green Day comes out on stage and rocks you with this sappy little nostalgia number: more ›

It's no secret that the incumbent party doesn't have much of an edge this election season, unless their constituents have magically found nothing to complain about. That's why this year, the incumbent Democrats are wising up and intentionally neglecting to mention their party affiliation in their campaign ads. Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf told the Times, “So why would you mention that you’re a Democrat? The smarter thing to do is, don’t tell them what kind of party you are, tell them what you’re going to do." And above all, be the fun guy they want to get a beer with! more ›

After the constant mud-slinging Monday through Saturday, many churchgoers take solace in a day where politics can be left at the door, and the only thing to concentrate on is faith. But not so fast, Christians, because New York pols are coming for your sermons! W. Ruth Whitney, the political liaison at Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn (churches have those?) told the Times, “When it’s really near an election, we could have [a politician] every week." Is nothing, ahem, sacred? more ›

Last year the Naked Cowboy dropped out of the Mayoral race, declaring: "What I want to do is stick with what I do best. It’s probably why I look like a naked cowboy, and Mayor Bloomberg looks like a mayor." However, he's now attempting to make headlines again with a new announcement that he's going to run for President (yes, of the United States of America). more ›

As the gubernatorial campaign has heated up in the last two weeks, there's been a little mud slinging and a lot of great photo shopping. We've also learned that Carl Paladino's wife, Cathy, is a registered Democrat who's had a complicated relationship with her husband: not only did he have a love child with his mistress, but he told his wife about it the same week that his son Patrick was killed in a car accident. But she's ok with all that: "...my first thought was, 'How lucky. Every child's a gift.' That was my thought. I wasn't angry, you know. I can deal with one family crisis at a time. But to multi-task...It's not that important." more ›

Oh sure, it's pretty obvious that Carl Paladino can talk the talk, violent threats, wit and wisdom all included. But did you know that he has mad Photoshop skills? Continuing in his quest to be noticed by ruffle Andrew Cuomo's calm exterior, Paladino sent out a new flyer to reporters yesterday showing Cuomo in the shower, with special interests and labor parties clinging to him like grime. Also, the Democrat has a gold necklace...because he's Italian-American...but it's not a stereotype, he swears! more ›

"Pirate of the Bronx" Pedro Espada is well known for throwing things out, whether it's tailor bills, race cards or petty cash. He's so extremely talented at it, it should come as no shock that he has racked up the most violations for his political litter during this campaign. more ›

When Pretzel Crisps sprinkled the city with an ad campaign that read: You Can Never Be Too Thin, they were so publicly criticized that they eventually apologized and took the ads down. Turns out they have now been replaced with a sensible campaign that doesn't at all place importance on being too thin. Just kidding! This one is equally bad, using a phrase that Kate Moss was once criticized for spouting, with many critics noting it can encourage girls to become anorexic. That phrase is: Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels. more ›

Pam Anderson has taken it all off for PETA in the past, but this time she's getting censored... in Canada. Her latest campaign for the organization was deemed sexist by Canadian officials, and when she flew to Montreal yesterday to unveil it, she found out that they were refused a permit to place the ad in the city. Anderson, who was born in Canada, declared: "In a city that is known for it's exotic dancing and for being progressive and edgy, how sad that a woman would be banned from using her own body in a political protest." more ›

A new website has launched in an effort to fight back against stereotypes often associated with New Jersey. The text on the site, called JerseyDoesntStink.com, reads: "Are you sick of defending your state against wisecracks?" ("Wisecracks," that's such a Jersey thing to say.) According to the Daily News, visitors are asked to sign an official declaration that New Jersey doesn't stink—so far only 1500 have attested to that. This will totally not work, but you gotta give the guy credit for dressing up as one of those pine tree air fresheners (which, by the way, smell worse than the Dirty Jerz): more ›

Senator Charles Schumer has been so busy lately worrying about baggage fees and Facebook privacy, not to mention criticizing Wall Street, it's easy to forget he's up for re-election. But it seems he doesn't have to worry about fundraising among his old crowd: Sen. Schumer has made nearly $2.2 million from interest on political donations that he collected more than six years ago. more ›

A former Bush adviser who many considered the most formidable Republican Senate candidate has decided he won't run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Even though Dan Senor had won the backing of some influential state Republicans, the defense expert, one-time spokesman for Iraq's coalition government, and husband of CNN's Campbell Brown won't pursue public office—yet. more ›

Attorney General and still unofficial gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo isn't fooling anyone. His critics have already called him "clever" and "coy" for not officially announcing his campaign, a strategy they say has allowed him to gain publicity without having to take difficult stances or unpopular positions. Now—even though he's still not officially in the race—his rivals have released a fairy tale-themed attack ad blasting the probable candidate, according to the Daily News. more ›

As part of their latest ad campaign, IKEA has furnished the Metro stations in Paris. Off the top of our heads we can think of a few reasons why this would be a horrible idea in New York City (bed bugs, theft, all sorts of bodily fluids soaking into the seat cushions)—but at the same time, it does look pretty cool. [via Fresh Home] more ›

Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. wasn't worried that people considered him a carpetbagger for running for Senate in New York, but he was "dumbfounded" by the fact the pro-choice groups wouldn't support his campaign, according to the Times. Before dropping out of the race, Ford—who once labeled himself as pro-life—tried and failed to win over abortion rights activists. "He was dumbfounded that it kept tripping him up," said a friend. more ›

One day after former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. announced he wouldn't run for Senate, real estate billionaire and Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman also bailed out of the race. Unlike Ford, who claims he quit to avoid an ugly primary, the 72-year-old said he won't run because he's too busy with family and business obligations: "[I]t is very difficult to see how I can devote the necessary time to either a campaign, or to working in Washington, if I were to win." more ›

Now that Harold Ford Jr. is out of the Senate race, attention has turned to another speculative candidate—Daily News publisher and real estate billionaire Mort Zuckerman. According to Politico, the possible Republican and Independent candidate has a lot of things going for him, including a personal fortune and a media empire at his bidding. But the 72-year-old could run into trouble because he's also known for breaking up unions and eliminating pensions at the Daily News, and raising a baby but refusing to disclose the identity of the child's mother. more ›

Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. will not run for Senate in New York state. The Merrill Lynch executive says he could defeat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand—but a "brutal and highly negative primary" would have done too much damage to the Democratic party. "I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans," he said. more ›

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo won't officially declare his candidacy for governor until he finishes his investigations of Gov. Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada (D-Bronx). "[The AG] can't do these cases once a campaign starts, and that is even more true with the David investigation," an insider told the Daily News. more ›

Possible Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. was booed and heckled by a gay Democratic club for his past record on same-sex marriage. Since voting twice to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage as a Congressman in Tennessee, Ford claims he has come to support marriage equality. But that wasn't enough to win over the Stonewall Democrats in the West Village. more ›

The list of possible candidates considering challenging Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand keeps on growing. Dan Senor—a former advisor to Pres. Bush and a one-time spokesman for Iraq's provisional government—is reportedly "very interested" in running on the Republican ticket. more ›

Gov. Paterson should be investigated for possibly misusing $1,800 in campaign funds at a Florida Ritz Carlton, a good government group alleges. According to the Daily News, the New York Public Interest Research Group wants the Board of Elections to study campaign credit card charges made at the resort in 2008 and determine if they were "personal in nature and not appropriately expensed to the campaign." In a long-awaited Times story on Paterson's purported laziness, the Governor said he went to Florida to meet with possible campaign donors, but added: "I have a cousin who's ill in Sarasota. I went down to see my cousin." He also said he spent time poolside, and noted it "was kind of vacation-oriented." more ›

Real estate billionaire and Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman has reportedly been contacting state Republican leaders in an effort to win their backing as he plots a possible Senate campaign. Zuckerman, 72, is not registered with a party in New York, and he would need the approval of the state's GOP committee in order to run on the Republican line against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. more ›

Not only is former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate running for his seat again after getting expelled for a misdemeanor conviction—this time he's doing it under the name of a made-up political party. Monserrate filed the needed petitions yesterday in order to get his name on the ballot for the March 16 special election, but since he's been disowned by the Democratic Party after being caught on video dragging his girlfriend down a hallway he decided to run on the "Yes We Can" party line. more ›

If the increasingly hostile tone between Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign and possible candidate Harold Ford Jr.'s campaign is any indication, New York voters are in for an ugly Democratic primary. After Ford criticized Gillibrand for holding a fundraiser with "party bosses" including President Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe, the Paterson appointee told the Daily News: "Harold Ford's attacks on President Obama and his agenda sound much more like [they are] coming from Sarah Palin than from a New York Democrat who is proud of his President." Awwwwww snap! more ›