But If Dom Tobasco Announces His Write-In Campaign We’ll Be Screwed

So this is what American democracy has come to — alliteration and a single obfuscating vowel:

Were Todd Tabacco to capture the South Shore Assembly seat in the March 27 special election, the 26-year-old hopeful (with the emphasis on hopeful) would be the first write-in candidate in Assembly history to secure a victory.

No matter. The young candidate, sitting in his makeshift campaign headquarters in Eltingville, curled his puppy-dog eyebrows upward last night and said:

“I think I’ve got a good shot.”

Tabacco, who is not related to the Republican nominee, Lou Tobacco, is likely to bring added confusion to any Islander who ever stumbled over the Molinaro/Molinari distinction in local politics. T-A-bacco, who highlights the “A” on all his signage, believes he and Tobacco both could benefit from the name recognition they each are garnering on the campaign trail.

Opponents have suggested the “O” Tobacco could be ineligible to run because he spent part of last year living and working in Arizona — but that aside, Tobacco has the advantages of the Republican nod and a week’s head start in the campaign. Still, Tabacco says he is mobilized for a fast and effective surge.

The Annadale resident and Eltingville native, a registered Republican and a graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School and Villanova University, announced his candidacy on Sunday, a week after he decided to run.

“The light bulb turned on: The opportunity was there and I felt if I didn’t run, I’d regret it,” said Tabacco. “Republicans in this area continue to win, but no real change happens. … [I take a similar stance on the issues, but] I wanted to be the candidate who would bring change.”

. . .

In the space of a week, Tabacco has put together the Web site, enlisted at least 50 volunteers, distributed signs and fliers, phoned and greeted potential constituents, and created headquarters next to DeMonte’s Richmond Avenue pork shop — computers predominate where two days ago a deli slicer and a cheese grater sat at the ready. Using cell phones and Myspace.com to network, he has also in that time started a campaign that is geared especially toward a younger generation of voters — a group often cited for political apathy.

“Our generation wants to be interested, but feel left out of the political process,” said Tabacco. “I want to get them to vote for me and to feel like they can make a difference.”