Scozzafava wins Week One

Let’s call last week Week One in the 23rd House District special election. It’s arbitrary, especially given the fact that the election hasn’t been scheduled yet.

But we have to begin somewhere.

I have to give this week to Dede Scozzafava. After a few tough weeks of pre-campaign muddle — and the tough duty of caring for her sick father — she had a strong showing.

The Republican sounded confident and relaxed in her conversation with David Sommerstein, unfazed by concerns about her relatively liberal social positions.

Her organization moved to open county offices across the district, staking out a grassroots ground game that could counter the Conservative Party challenge.

She also won some face time with Democratic leaders, boosting her image as a bipartisan pragmatist.

Her big assist came from Sen. Chuck Schumer. Asked about Democratic candidate Bill Owens, he muffed it — talking instead about how tough it was not to have Darrel Aubertine in the race.

Ouch.

Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman also helped out by spending the week mostly off-radar.

My sense is that Owens and Hoffman have to come out pretty strong in the next week or two to establish a real contest here.

Otherwise, in a Republican stronghold district against an experienced candidate like Scozzafava the momentum might be tough to reverse.

My Score: Week One to Scozzafava.

How do you handicap it? Comments below…