Speculation is ramping up about a possible switch to politics by a well-known area TV journalist.
The rumors have been out there in political and media circles for some weeks now; the possibility that WROC-TV anchor and reporter Rachel Barnhart might be considering a primary run against Democratic Incumbent Assemblyman Harry Bronson.
But now there’s also word of an internal poll obtained by the Democrat and Chronicle. Among other things, it found that if the election were held today, 30 percent of those responding would vote for Barnhart and 25 percent for Bronson. 34 percent of those polled weren't sure who they would suppport. The survey has a margin of error of just under five percent.
Robert Scott Gaddy is an Albany lobbyist, who commissioned the poll. He released this statement:
"A group of Barnhart supporters approached me about her potential candidacy, and requested that I prepare a feasibility study. The poll is part of that analysis.
I care deeply about Rochester, and have participated in many local political contests over the years, most notably Mayor Warren's.
Rachel is a very good friend of mine. The polling results show that, should she decide to run, Rachel will win. If that day comes, I will be among her first supporters."
Barnhart is not commenting, and when contacted by WXXI News, Bronson says he’s just focused on the state budget now, and issues like education, workforce development and the minimum wage, and said he’s not concentrating on politics right now.
At Nazareth College, chair of history and political science Timothy Kneeland says if Barnhart does run, that move from journalism to politics is not all that unusual.
“If you look at the career of Maggie Brooks, or Rich Funke, just within the last decade or so we’ve had people move from being in front of the camera to politics.”
Mayor Lovely Warren announced her support for Bronson just last week at Monroe County Democratic headquarters, and Kneeland says that may have been in response to the speculation that Bronson might face a primary challenger.
