From the New York Times:

With major elections approaching over the next year and a half, leading New York Democrats are expressing deep concerns that the party has been thrown into turmoil by competing personal agendas, ideological rifts and a leadership void.

Democratic politicians and strategists warn that the strife threatens to undercut not only any chance of remaining competitive in the race for City Hall this year, but hopes of holding on to the Governor’s Mansion and a United States Senate seat in 2010.

At the heart of the problem, Democrats say, is a party that has been unable to maintain any semblance of cohesiveness (or, more bluntly, discipline) as its most prominent leaders either struggle with their own political misfortunes or stand on the sidelines. They add that the departure of Hillary Rodham Clinton from New York politics has contributed significantly to the leadership void, with party operatives who had been loyal to her scattering to different camps.

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