In a coalition government — assuming party leaders keep their troops in line — two of the three conferences would have to agree in order to pass legislation. Since Republicans and Democrats hardly ever agree on anything (which is why Mr. Klein said he formed the IDC in the first place), any partisan bill, either supported by every Democrat or every Republican, would need the IDC’s votes to pass.

If the only thing standing between a majority for Senate Democrats is the IDC, Mr. Klein will have to face the wrath of Senate Democrats, who will likely label him as a traitor and the second coming of Pedro Espada Jr.

Ugly already?

Let the mud slinging begin.

It didn’t take long for City Council candidate Cliff Stanton to release a statement trash talking his opponent, Community Board 8 member Andrew Cohen.

Before Mr. Cohen officially announced his candidacy on Nov. 20, Mr. Stanton sent out a statement saying he expected Rep. Eliot Engel, state Sen. Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Oliver Koppell to endorse Mr. Cohen.

“These endorsements are not a surprise because Andy Cohen is part of their plan to put politics ahead of the needs of the community as they have been for over two decades,” Mr. Stanton said in a press release.

“Andy Cohen is a manufactured candidate with thin leadership credentials and a scant record of achievement; a product of the entrenched political machine of the Northwest Bronx,” he continued.

Mr. Cohen responded to the remarks and said he was honored to have the endorsements of the local electeds.

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Stanton has decided to go negative so early in the campaign. He has been running unopposed since last January and must be upset that there is more than one candidate in the race now,” Mr. Cohen wrote in an e-mail, adding that he thinks its an important qualification for serving in public office to work with other elected officials and community leaders.

“I’ll let my record speak for itself. I obviously won’t get Cliff’s vote. I will concede that vote to him,” he said.

A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the speaker of a quote from a press release. The article should have read: “These endorsements are not a surprise because Andy Cohen is part of their plan to put politics ahead of the needs of the community as they have been for over two decades,” Cliff Stanton said in a press release.