ALBANY – The hard-fought effort to oust Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver lost some of its steam yesterday as challenger Michael Bragman conceded his support has eroded.
But Bragman, a Syracuse Democrat, vowed to fight on – and said he’ll bring his battle to the Capitol Monday, when he’ll ask Assembly members to vote to remove the Manhattan-based Silver as speaker.
“I have had votes eroded but, whatever happens, there’s going to be change here,” insisted Bragman, the Assembly’s majority leader for seven years before being stripped of the post by Silver on Wednesday.
“Shelly Silver must go as the speaker of the Assembly.”
Bragman said the “rock solid” support of at least 53 Assembly Democrats he claimed on Thursday has slipped to about 48 – and might go lower.
Silver spokeswoman Patricia Lynch insisted “the coup has failed,” but Assembly insiders insisted the battle isn’t over.
They said Bragman may try to link his supporters to those loyal to Assembly Minority Leader John Faso of upstate Kinderhook, a Republican who has long-complained of Silver’s tenure as speaker.
Bragman suffered a serious blow Thursday night when Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, the Bronx Democratic chairman who appeared to be favoring Bragman, threw his support to Silver.
Bragman attributed the erosion of his support to Silver’s behind-the-scene hardball tactics, which insiders said have included threats of harsh political retaliation.
Bragman got a big boost yesterday when Queens Democratic Chairman Thomas Manton said he was still backing the ouster effort, despite a claim to the contrary by Silver’s staff.