Political Limbo Remains Strong In Albany
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
The chairs are being set and the spotlights are being trained on the podium.
The seating chart for the state of the state address still hasn't been worked out, particularly, who will be sitting in the senate majority leader's chair?
When Republicans were in power, it was Joe Bruno.
Now there are more incoming Democrats, but three of them won't back party leader Malcolm Smith, leaving neither Democrats nor Republican Dean Skelos with the 32 votes needed to land the prized perch and control of the legislature's upper house.
That has the senate, and Albany, and the careful choreography of Wednesday's state of the state address in a historic limbo.
"There's a ceremonial procedure that has to be followed and I'm looking forward to that moment when the senate comes in and says the senate is organized and I'm gonna be holding on to my chair saying which way," said Assemblyman Jack McEneny (D-Albany).
Over the weekend, Smith continued to woo the three. They're scheduled to meet again Tuesday evening.
But the so-called "gang of three" hasn't decided, after Smith scuttled a power sharing deal last month.
With Governor Paterson keeping his distance from a political fray, Republicans are making an improbable attempt at staying in power.
"At this point it's extremely unlikely that the Republicans would somehow keep control of the senate. But if there's anything we've learned in Albany over the last 12 months is that anything can happen," said Bob Bellafiore, a Republican consultant.
If the battle for the three Democrats isn't confusing things enough, the fate of two other state senators is also rattling Albany.
Longtime Republican state senator Frank Padavan of Queens has yet to be declared a winner, two months past the election.
He's sparring with challenger Jim Gennaro over which discounted ballots should count.
Incoming Democrat Hiram Monserrate faces pressure to hold off taking his seat since his arrest on charges of attacking his girlfriend.
Add to all of that one last Capitol quirk. Master of ceremonies for Wednesday's speech normally is the lieutenant governor.
Last year that was Paterson. But since he took over as governor, there's been a vacancy and another empty chair for now.