From the House Race Hotline for Tuesday, May 6,2008

NEW YORK 13 (R/STATEN ISLAND -- FOSSELLA)

And Into The Vacuum Goes The NY Press

Tue. May 6, 2008


Rep. Vito Fossella (R), according to a police report, said he was "rushing" to see his "sick daughter" and take her to the hospital when he "allegedly blew" a .17 into a Breathalyzer. A "few hours later," Fossella called ex-USAF Col. Laura Fay to sign him out of jail. Since the incident, Fay has "kept a low profile" as questions "continued to haunt" her over her "relationship" with Fossella.

When asked whether Fay's 3-year-old "was the same girl" Fossella had to take to the hospital, Fossella spokesperson Susan Del Percio "declined to comment." Del Percio: "This is a demeaning and highly inappropriate question that does not deserve an answer." She "characterized" Fossella's relationship with Fay as "very good friends" (Mongelli/MacIntosh/Bennett, New York Post, 5/6).

What Have You Done Lately?

Staten Island Advance's Gordon writes, as things stand now, Fossella's career "has not blown up entirely." But his current problem opens the door to the question: "What is it, exactly," that he's accomplished? Staten Island "has some very big local issues," like transportation, "that will determine its future." Fossella has never "seriously tried" to address it. In the end, he'll be "judged by his body of work" on Island issues (5/5).