Report from the NY23rd: McHugh was confirmed as Army Secretary, so IT'S ON!

[hedgehog]

IN this traditionally Republican District, the Candidates are:

For the Democrats: Bill Owens, who only registered as a Democrat after being nominated. He is ex-Air Force. He first came here when he was stationed at Plattsburgh. He liked the area so much, he returned and got Bombardier to locate its rail car plant here, bringing in 600 jobs. He is on record as supporting civil unions but opposing same sex marriage.


For the Republicans: Diedre “Dede” Scozzafava, who supports gay marriage.

And the Wild Card:

For the Conservatives: Doug Hoffman, who offers an alternative for any Republicans wishing to punish their party leaders for nominating a liberal.

Here in New York, the Liberal and Conservative Parties have often served as spoilers, splitting the vote to tip the results in the opposite direction.

I've already been push polled twice. The Republicans are trying to portray Doug Hoffman as a sore loser who is breaking a pledge not to run if the Party leaders selected someone else. Of course, Hoffman maintains he must run since the leaders betrayed party principles. A vote for Bill Owens is being presented as a vote for government takeover of health care.

This election may be portrayed as a referendum on the health care bill.

More Info:

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27055

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/democrats_nominate_bill_owens.html