Nachman Caller’s Run in the 48th A.D. against Dov Hikind might be the best chance that the Brooklyn GOP has of getting a takeaway from the Democrats (and the Conservatives)

Nachman Caller the GOP Leader of the 48th A.D. is running against the longtime assemblyman from that district, Dov Hikind 

Already the best financed assembly campaign in Brooklyn, Caller’s largely self-financed campaign might become the best financed Republican race in Brooklyn 

With a campaign that is barely three weeks old, Nachman Caller has burst onto the Boro Park – Lower Flatbush scene with gusto and a well tailored campaign largely put together by the likes of the well-known and respected GOP guru, E. O’Brien Murray and the Boro Park veteran Moshe Friedman, as well as the newly added campaign mavin Hank Sheinkopf..

Caller’s Campaign made a big announcement of the formal campaign with a September 22, 2014 statement from “Friends of Nachman Caller” on posters and in social media that contained following remarks: “To my dear friends in Borough Park and Flatbush – residing in the 48th Assembly District ***   With profound gratitude and great humility, I present myself as a candidate for the State Assembly in the 48th District, because I feel we can do more for the community in Albany. ***  My friends and those who’ve known me for years have asked me why I am willing to undertake this great challenge. What would I benefit from running and what would it bring me should I prevail? ***  The answer to that is simple: knowing that the members of our community will greatly benefit from my campaign. For me, it’s not about money or personal prestige; it’s all about the community and the people for which I care so much....”
( See “Friends of Nachman Caller – To my dear friends in Borough Park and Flatbush – residing in the 48th Assembly District, ” 9/22/14, Statement From Facebook, Twitter and on posters [www.facebook.com/nachmancaller]; [https://twitter.com/Nachman_Caller]).

The Caller campaign’s keynote statement to Caller’s “Friends” in   “Borough Park and Flatbush – residing in the 48th Assembly District” continued as follows: “Over the past few years, I have dedicated my time giving back to the community, helping the needy and embarking on missions that were never undertaken by a large measure. For Example: Single-handedly leading the fight against the gambling casinos in the Catskills and handing out ‘Kupas HaChesed’ vouchers for low-income families. ***   The time has come to take it to the next level. I believe that I am uniquely qualified to serve as a voice and a representative of the community in Albany, to ease the burden of the working class and bring honor and prosperity to our communities.”

And the Caller statement finished like this: “The past five years have proven that contested elections bear results. As a consequence, we have managed to pass several pieces of legislation that were viewed as an impossible task only a short while ago. ***  Simply put: it is the community that would benefit and be the ultimate winner of my run. ***  Over the next few weeks, I will present my plans for the foreseeable future, and it is my hope that you will join me in forging that path to victory.”

PROMISE OF A BIG CAMPAIGN

According to an article in Crain’s, “Well-known Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who is a consultant for the New York Democratic Party, is crossing party lines to join the campaign of a Republican seeking to unseat Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind. ***  The Republican candidate is deep-pocketed Nachman Caller, an attorney who has already lent $193,000 to his campaign. Mr. Sheinkopf's hiring was confirmed by Moshe Friedman, a consultant who is also working on Mr. Caller's campaign. ***   In addition to Mr. Sheinkopf, Mr. Caller has retained a well-known Republican consultant, E. O'Brien Murray, campaign finance records show....” (See ““Top Dem consultant to target Hikind” by Chris Bragg, 9/23/14, Crain’s/ Insider [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140923/BLOGS04/140929980/top-dem-consultant-to-target-hikind]). So far this amalgam has seemed to function well as a team on behalf of their guy at the top, Mr. Caller.

So far the campaign has gotten very good press. In addition to the Crain’s article by Chris Bragg above, there have been favorable mentions of the Caller Campaign in the local-ish Orthodox-oriented papers “J*P Updates” and the “Yeshiva World News” ( See “Communicative Letter By Reb. Nachman Caller On The Fight To Stop Catskills Casino” JP Newsroom, 6/27/14, J*P Updates [http://jpupdates.com/2014/06/27/communicative-letter-reb-nachman-caller-fight-stop-catskills-casino/]; and “Community Receptive To Nachman Caller’s Issue-Oriented Campaign For State Assembly” by  Studio B YWN, 9/28/14, Yeshiva World News [http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/260999/community-receptive-to-nachman-callers-issue-oriented-campaign-for-state-assembly.html]).  In fact, even an article covering the announcement of Dov Hikind’s seeking re-election contained a significant favorable mention of Nachman Caller’s candidacy ( See “Borough Park – Hikind Formally Announces Reelection Bid,” by Jacob Kornbluh,  5/29/14,
J*P Updates,
[http://jpupdates.com/2014/05/29/borough-park-hikind-formally-announces-reelection-bid/]).

On the other hand, and in spite of other problems, it is expected that Dov Hikind’s campaign will also be funded quite lavishly.

 Hikind [Dem, Cons.]  –  Caller [GOP,  HJP]   

In the general election that will be held on November 4, 2014, incumbent Dov Hikind, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary will run on the Democratic line, while Nachman Caller, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, will be running as the Republican candidate. Hikind is also running with the Conservative Party endorsement and Mr. Caller will also be running as the HJP, Housing & Jobs Party candidate.