Mejias Interview from Congressional Quarterly

The CQPolitics Interview: David Mejias (N.Y. 3)

CQ: How’s it going so far?

Mejias: It’s been great, the reception’s been incredible, it’s been one like great thing after another building on itself. ... There are a lot of politicians that will say that they’re the perfect person for X, Y and Z, and the fact of the matter is I could spend 10 million dollars, [King] could spend 10 million dollars, we could both be like the greatest political candidates in the history of the world, but there are things that are beyond us that are going to effect this race. ...
Nationally, you have demoralized Republicans, [and] locally on Long Island, you have Democrats who are completely energized because we’ve just gotten elected to all these offices, we’re pumped. ...
They’re talking about this perfect storm nationally happening where the Democrats will take back the House. There’s a tsunami in New York and especially in Long Island when you consider the top of the ticket, what’s going on locally, and the national issues that people are really upset about.

CQ: You mentioned that, as you said, the voter registration doesn’t reflect how Democratic the district is, as your argument is. April numbers indicate it is 43 percent Republican and 29 percent Democratic. Despite what you said about Democrats’ good showing in the presidential election, Peter King still has managed to win with pretty strong margins. Do you think that that is an impediment that despite what’s going on nationally, Peter King has consistently done very well?

Mejias: Listen, if you’re on the ballot against nobody, you’re going to do well. I mean, who’s running against him? Nobody. I’ve raised more money than the last four candidates combined already. I mean, these guys have spent no money, they were never on TV, no mail, I mean, he’s never been challenged. Which is part of the reason why he’s become such a Washington insider — he’s been able to become one of the Republican elite because he doesn’t really have to answer to the regular working person, independent person back home that doesn’t vote strict party lines. But this is a different year, and I’m a different type of candidate. ...
I’ve been in these races before, I’ve had the kitchen sink thrown at me. When has Peter King ever had a tough race? This is one of those unique years. And we saw it in ‘94 when the leadership, the Democratic leadership, was thrown out of office in overwhelming Democratic districts. That can happen this year.

For more go to Congressional Quarterly