A Muddled Week Four goes to…Scozzafava

Why muddled? Because I called last week Week Four. So, here’s our first full-fledged correction: This is Week Four.

Now on to the pressing developments…

Let’s start with Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate.

He spent a couple of news cycles trying to gin up concern about Republican Dede Scozzafava’s ties to “radical” leftists, in the form of Acorn and the Working Families Party.

Then he issued a statement condemning President Barack Obama’s decision to bag a land-based missile defense system in eastern Europe.

Could these issues activate a “tea party-townhall” vote in the North Country? Maybe. I remain unconvinced, but it’s a question worth exploring more…

Democrat Bill Owens had a solid week, opening a new office in Watertown and announcing a get-to-know you session session with voters on that side of the district for this Saturday.

He also drew a strong endorsement from state Senator Darrel Aubertine, a key Democratic ally in a part of the 23rd where Owens isn’t well known.

If Aubertine pushes hard for Owens, it could shape the dynamic considerably.

Owens also drew some unflattering ink in Politicker for his past ties to CommutAir, the North Country commuter airline that tanked, triggering law suits. (Owens is no longer named in the litigation.)

Finally to Republican Dede Scozzafava, who wins the week by a nose. Here’s why:

First, she sat down and talked in-depth with NCPR’s David Sommerstein about her family’s Wisebuys-Hackett’s mess.

Voters will have to sort through her arguments for themselves, but this is an issue she couldn’t afford to avoid and she attacked it squarely.

Second, she was photographed in the Malone Telegram with Janet Duprey, the popular Republican Assemblywoman from Peru, NY.

Thirdly, she drew strong support from Republican House minority leader John Boehner, who says if Scozzafava is elected he’ll try to win her a seat on the House Armed Services Committee.

That’s big. The committee is vital to the region’s interests, especially for voters around Fort Drum.

More importantly, Boehner’s backing further complicates the Conservative Party argument that Scozzafava is too liberal for the GOP.

(Boehner is so conservative that he and Rep. John McHugh regularly locked horns…)

Jude Seymour, at the Watertown Daily Times called Boehner’s position “a game changer” for the race.

Anyone connected with Fort Drum or who recognizes its importance to the local economy who wasn’t seriously considering voting for Ms. Scozzafava will have to reconsider now.

I won’t go that far, but I do say it tips the week to Scozzafava…