Clearly the weekend Buffalo News attack on Erie County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward gives ammunition to his critics within the party who want him out. Of course, he also has his supporters as well. The big question for the Commish is: Can he find a way to make sure he lands on the winning side in the current County Dem Chairman contest?

If he can do that, he should be ok as long as he stays close to County Executive Mark Poloncarz. The hefty weighted vote wielded by Ward's Amherst also can't hurt. Commissioner Ward has a big block of votes that he could probably deliver to somebody.

Meanwhile, observers are wondering why the campaign of NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan is spending so much time and money going after the ballot eligibility of BMHA Commissioner Joe Mascia, apparently based on the strange contention that an incumbent elected official can't run for public office...Isn't that what he's doing?

Next step in this Magical Mystery Tour: A trip to the NYS Appellate Court.

Finally, we didn't mean to be so negative about Mitt Romney's choice of Cong. Paul Ryan as his running mate. Nothing personal. It's just that we feel that the selection is a strategic mistake since it will take attention off the economy and put it on the Ryan budget, which both Gov. Romney and our own GOP congressional contender Chris Collins are already both backing away from.

Finally, finally those personal attacks on Erie County Legislature chief of staff Jeremy Zellner on that other web site are a disgrace. We're not taking sides in the chairman's race. We just don't like baseless personal attacks.