McMahon, Cusick May Reconsider Grimm Challenge

Jon Lentz reported this item for today’s Heard Around Town:

* The New York Times’ report Saturday of campaign finance accusations against Staten Island Republican Rep. Michael Grimm set the island’s politicos buzzing about whether it will stir more Democrats to take him on. Former Congressman Mike McMahon, who lost the seat in 2010 and hasn’t said if he’ll run again, is likely among those taking a closer look. “Obviously this is going to change a lot of people’s calculations about what they would or wouldn’t do, including Mike McMahon, maybe Mike Cusick, maybe (Councilman) Vinnie Gentile,” said one Staten Island Democrat. “No one believes that this is the end of the story. It’s just the beginning.” Another Staten Island source said Assemblyman Michael Cusick is likely getting encouragement from Sen. Chuck Schumer, his former boss, to enter the race. “I’ve heard that McMahon and Cusick are both taking another look at it at this point,” the source said. “I think McMahon would be more likely to get in. I think it’s a little late in the game for Cusick.” So far Mark Murphy, a former aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, is the only Democrat officially in the race, though former Brooklyn Councilman John Gangemi has said he also plans to run too.