Morning Read: NY Times says 2 North Country House races close

A new treatment of the New York state House races by the Times finds that at least two races here in the North Country are still competitive.

According to the report, these races “could help [Republicans] retake control of the House.”

The report focuses a lot of ink in Mike Arcuri’s 24th House district, which includes part of the North Country around Old Forge.  The Democrat from Utica faces a challenger from businessman Richard Hanna.

“It’s thermonuclear,” Mr. Arcuri said, referring to the ferocity of the campaign being waged against him. He added, “It’s going to be a close election.”

The article also notes shifts in the contest in the 23rd district race between Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Matt Doheny.

Mr. Doheny’s campaign got unexpected help this month when a third-party conservative candidate, Douglas L. Hoffman, withdrew from the race and threw his support behind the Republican.

One interesting note is that the article doesn’t mention the 20th district race between Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Chris Gibson.

Pundits appear to feel that this one is slipping away from the GOP.  In an analysis written yesterday, the Albany Times-Union‘s Jennifer Dlouhy wrote this:

[L]ess than three weeks before voters head to the polls, it’s not the Murphy-Gibson contest that is giving Republicans their best chances of picking up seats in New York state.

Instead, the GOP is within striking distance in other Empire State races — and political analysts increasingly predict Murphy will hold onto his seat in the House.

Exactly two weeks to go…

Tags: election10