Is Doug Hoffman a spoiler, or the true standard bearer?

Once again the North Country finds itself in the thick of a nationally-important election, as Republican Dede Scozzafava, Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman vie for the House seat vacated by John McHugh.

And once again national politics threaten to eclipse local concerns facing the region’s communities.

A pantheon of Washington DC-based groups view Doug Hoffman as the proper standard bearer for conservative values.

They’re convinced that Scozzafava — pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, pro-union — is just too liberal.

But GOP leaders are equally convinced that Scozzafava is a solid fiscal conservative, and they think Hoffman is unelectable.

This feud on the right is attracting hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra campaign spending to the race — and it could tip the election to Owens, a newcomer who only recently joined the Democratic Party.

What do you think? Is it interesting and exciting for our election to serve as a national crucible; or is this a case of outsiders using a North Country vote as a kind of proxy war?

Comments welcome below…