A succinct summation of yesterday at the GOP convention: “It was a solid showing for Harry and Gary.”

Gary Berntsen’s designation at the convention to take on Sen. Chuck Schumer was a win for the Tea Party (even though he faces a primary from Jay Townsend).

Berntsen called Schumer and President Obama “great appeasers.”

The “great unsettlement” at the GOP convention (as per John Faso) could help Rick Lazio today.

It’s do-or-die day for Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

Levy gets some support in a local battle from the Times.

State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long called state GOP Chairman Ed Cox’s float of a new third party “mind-boggling” and “irrational.”

VP Joe Biden is in NYC today. He’ll meet with Rep. Nita Lowey and then attend an event at the Brooklyn Bridge to tout the Recovery Act. (No link).

Biden helped Rep. John Hall (NY-19) raise campaign cash in Bedford yesterday.

Al and Tipper Gore announced the end of their 40-year marriage via email.

Four 2013 potential NYC mayoral contenders will unite to fight an initiative to abolish partisan primary elections.

The nonpartisan elections issue is expected to come up at tonight’s Charter Revision Commission forum in the Bronx.

The SEC reportedly wants to bar Steven Rattner from working in the securities industry for up to three years.

Rudy Giuliani, pushing Republican Michael Grimm in NY-13, said Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon has been “neutered” by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

GOP gubernatorial contender Warren Redlich agrees with Rand Paul that he federal government was wrong to desegregate private businesses when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

Curtis Sliwa was disinvited from a Cuomo fundraiser hosted by one of his friends – at the campaign’s request.

An anonymous bill introduced in the Senate would make it easier for the Working Families Party – and other third parties – to keep their ballot status.

The Post (unsurprisingly) thinks former Chief Judge Judith Kaye’s WFP report was a whitewash.

Randy Mastro isn’t wholly satisfied with the Kaye report, either.

State Budget Director Robert Megna used the b-word – as in “broke.”

Megna said the state started out the month of June $500 million in the red.

The state’s second “Race to the Top” application is leaner than the first.

The NY Observer says the Legislature got it “right” by lifting the charter school cap.

Robert Morgenthau is out as a monitor for the FDNY, Mary Jo White is in.

The state Senate passed a bill requiring overtime pay and at least one day off a week for nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers.

Gov. David Paterson is pushing for a bill that would expand the state’s DNA database.

Paterson blamed state worker union leaders for forcing his hand on layoffs.

Mayor Bloomberg needs to work on his iPad touchscreen skills.

Senate candidate Basil Smikle’s new fundraising team has ties to Paterson, Rep. Charlie Rangel and Obama.

The mayor got an earful on Staten Island.

Bloomberg has proposed cutting nursing positions at small public and private schools.

AG Andrew Cuomo has to “run based on who he is, and not based on ‘let me kiss this one’s ass, and that one’s ass,’ just to try to get a vote,” said Norman Seabrook, head of the corrections officers union.

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco has a challenger this fall.

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