Wary of 2010 elections, NY Dems plot secret issues summit to strategize

Democratic county chairs and labor leaders are holding a secret summit meeting this week to start mapping out a political strategy - increasingly nervous that a weak 2010 ticket could be a gift to the GOP.

The agenda for tomorrow's meeting at a Kingston Holiday Inn will include "the economy, health care, labor law reform, key legislative initiatives," according to a source involved with the get-together.

Gov. Paterson and his historically low poll numbers, which some Democrats and union heads worry will lead to a successful challenge next fall by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also will be a topic of discussion.

"The topic is going to be politics in general and is going to include the governor as well as other statewide office holders," the source said.

Democrats and their labor allies have a lot to be concerned about.

So far, the 2010 ticket is shaping up to include three statewide officials who were appointed to their posts - Paterson, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and state Controller Tom DiNapoli. None of them had favorability ratings above 35% in recent public opinion polls, leaving all of them vulnerable to primary or general election challenges.

There is still no candidate for lieutenant governor.

The man tapped to fill the seat Paterson vacated last March, former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, has said he won't run - even if the courts ultimately rule his appointment was legal.

The Democrats' strongest statewide elected official, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, is widely believed to be plotting a primary challenge to Paterson. If he does, it will spark a free-for-all for his open seat among would-be attorney generals on both sides of the aisle.

At the legislative level, the Senate is back in Democratic hands after the 31-day stalemate, but the margin remains uncomfortably tight. With a 32-30 seat majority, the party remains beholden to Sens. Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. - the renegades who bolted and sparked the deadlock in the first place.

The driving force behind Monday's meeting is Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez, sources said. Lopez was unusually public in his criticism of Paterson's selection of Ravitch as lieutenant governor, calling it a "bad choice" and a "convenient fix."

The Democratic chairs of Monroe, Bronx, Nassau, Onondaga and Erie counties are expected to attend tomorrow's powwow. Unions expected to show up include: 32BJ, SEIU 1199, the Building Trades, the UFT, RWDSU and NYSUT.

No decisions are likely to be made at the meeting, which is being held to "start the discussion," sources said. Another gathering will occur after the city elections this fall.