With little more than a week to go before the primary, Hillary Clinton is attempting to run out the clock on debating Jonathan, because she does not want voters to know where she stands on the war (she's for it). It's a cowardly tactic. Below, an excerpt from Antiwar Primaries by John Nichols, in this week's issue of The Nation.

Every vote Sheeler wins against Whitehouse, the choice of party leaders, will tell Washington Democrats that party activists want to see more muscular opposition to Bush and his war. The same goes for votes cast in the New York Senate primary for former National Writers Union president Jonathan Tasini, who is taking on Hillary Clinton. The Lamont win in neighboring Connecticut is focusing attention on Tasini's antiwar challenge to Clinton, who has responded by edging away from her Lieberman-like support for the Administration's stay-the-course policy. Even with the New York Times telling Clinton she should debate Tasini--if only to clarify exactly where she now stands--the low-budget challenge to the presumed frontrunner for the party's 2008 presidential nomination faces daunting odds. But Tasini's run has succeeded in making the war what it should be in every 2006 contest: the central issue.

PRESS RELEASE:

JONATHAN TASINI RESPONDS TO MOVEON.ORG'S "NO ENDORSEMENT" RESULT IN NY SENATE RACE POLL

SYRACUSE, NY - Democratic Senate candidate Jonathan Tasini released this statement today in reaction to the results of MoveOn.org's poll in the New York Senate primary race.

"These results are a broader indicator than other polls that have come out," Tasini said, "because they give the opinion of many more voters among the Democratic activist base. I am very heartened by the outcome. In many cases, MoveOn members heard of me for the very first time in this poll, and had the information they received about our differing positions been more balanced rather than favoring one candidate, I believe I would have won. What this poll does show is a deeply divided Democratic base that deserves a full debate on the issues, and I call on MoveOn to call on Senator Clinton to debate me immediately, so that MoveOn members get the full range of opinion before September 12th. I would also ask MoveOn to host the debate should there not be another forum."

Jonathan and Team Tasini are at the NY State Fair in Syracuse today visiting with voters. If you're in the neighborhood look for our signs and say hello! Events today at the Fair include:

Friday, September 1 - Higher Education Day
Friday, September 1 - Native American Day
Friday, September 1 - Student's Day

http://www.nysfair.org/fair

Tune in to WNYC AM 820 or FM 99.9 or listen to the live stream at www.wnyc.org during Morning Edition from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The segment will air periodically throughout the show.

Your efforts over the last few weeks to encourage MoveOn to poll its members about the New York Senate Democratic primary have succeeded! MoveOn sent out a poll TODAY in the Tasini vs. Clinton race.

If you're a MoveOn member, please check your inbox right NOW for a ballot from MoveOn and vote right away. The poll closes at 11:00 a.m. Friday.

Jonathan needs to get 66% of the vote to win the MoveOn endorsement. Please tell everyone you know who's a New York MoveOn member to check their email right NOW for a ballot from MoveOn, and ask them to vote for the progressive, anti-war Democrat Jonathan Tasini.

We're delighted that MoveOn has been so responsive to its membership in sending out this poll. Please reply to them right away, and vote for what you believe in!