Could the turmoil in Albany liberate Aubertine?

As Democrats search for someone who can win John McHugh’s soon-to-be-vacant 23rd congressional district seat, the obvious go-to guy is Darrel Aubertine.

The conservative Democrat and dairy farmer has shown that he can knock down hefty and well-funded Republican challengers.

Until Monday, he was stuck: Aubertine couldn’t make the jump into the House race without endangering his party’s tenuous hold on the state Senate majority.

But now that majority seems to have crumbled without any help from Sen. Aubertine.

Is he free now to follow his ambitions to Washington? Have the Republicans played a brilliant chess move in Albany that could backfire and sting them big-time in the North Country?

Meanwhile, the Independence Party — which helped push Dem. Scott Murphy over hte top — is promising to back Aubertine if he runs.

This from the Associated Press:

Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay tells The Associated Press his influential party will support Democratic state Sen. Darrel Aubertine if he decides to run for the seat representing
northern New York.

What do you think? More musical chairs anyone?