Watertown Daily Times backs Owens, blasts Hoffman

A day after Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the NY-23 special election, the Watertown Daily Times — the biggest newspaper in the district — backed Democrat Bill Owens.

It’s a dramatic shift, especially for a newspaper which generally has a (small-c) conservative-leaning editorial page.

Here’s the WDT’s take on Owens:

Of the two, Bill Owens is by far the superior and only choice.

The Democratic candidate has demonstrated a willingness to listen to people about ways in which he could help the district as their representative in Washington. Mr. Owens has remained focused on the economy and job creation throughout his campaign. At the same time, he has shown an understanding of the military, a keen desire to help dairy farmers, an ability to work with labor unions and an eagerness to learn more about the vast, 11-county district that he hopes to represent.

Mr. Owens seems to approach politics and challenges with an open mind, a generous spirit and a can-do attitude. He has conducted a dignified campaign in comparison to Doug Hoffman.

The WDT editorial attack on Doug Hoffman, meanwhile, is flat-out blistering. WDT describes the Conservative from Lake Placid as “an ideologue.”

If he carries out his pledges on earmarks, taxation, labor law reform and other inflexible positions, Northern New York will suffer.

This rural district depends on the federal government for an investment in Fort Drum and its soldiers, environmental protection of our international waterway and the Adirondack Park, and the livelihood of all our dairy farmers across the district, among other support.

Our representative cannot be locked into rigid promises and policies that would jeopardize these critical sectors of our economy.

For a member of Congress, there may be a time to promote reform in Washington, but there is also a time to work within a system that best serves the people you represent.

It is frightening that Mr. Hoffman is so beholden to right-wing ideologues who dismiss Northern New Yorkers as parochial when people here simply want to know how Mr. Hoffman will protect their interests in Washington.