Today is the primary election in NYC. According to the morning news, the latest polling puts Fernando Ferrer ahead but headed for a likely runoff with Gifford Miller. Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields and the unfortunately named Congressman Anthony Weiner are in a dead heat for third.

One of the more interesting races today is for Manhattan DA. Leslie Crocker-Snyder is challenging Robert Morgenthau. Base10 thinks she has a good shot. She has a reputation in law enforcement as a no-nonsense judge. Most importantly, she favors the death penalty.

Morgenthau is just too old and is locked into sixties-liberal mode. He opposes the death penalty and has gone to legal extremes not to seek it in cases where it was quite appropriate. Also, while one hates to be critical of someone for their age, Morgenthau has long since abandoned the day-to-day running of his office to deputies. Stories of his dotage abound. While you have to respect him for his long held tenure as one of the most powerful DA's in the country, it's time to move on.

- posted by Base10 @ 12:01 PM