With Owens, Democrats make a serious race of it in 23rd

Plattsburgh attorney Bill Owens has won the nod for the Democratic ticket in the 23rd House district special election.

The decision followed a day-long session in Blue Mountain Lake.

Owens was partners for years with Republican icon Ron Stafford and could pose serious problems for the GOP.

I worked with him on programs that aired on Mountain Lake PBS, where Owens hosted their business show.

He’s good on camera, well-spoken and smart.

He’s also undeniably centrist — even center-right as Democrats go. (He describes himself as an life-long independent.)

And he’s an Air Force veteran in a district where veterans and military voters matter. Hard to imagine conservatives painting him as a “Nancy Pelosi” foot soldier.

I’m also guessing that he’ll able to foot a sizable chunk of the campaign bill himself, an important asset in this race.

With Republican voters forced to choose between GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava and Conservative Doug Hoffman, Owens has a real shot.

Republicans issued a statement today saying they were prepared to “fight against the false attacks and personal smears that have already been spread by her opponents.”

They failed to note that the harshest attacks so far are coming from the right.

One interesting note: As with Scott Murphy in the 20th district special election, Bill Owens is the kind of guy who would have certainly run as a Republican five years ago.

The fact that the Democrats can attract this kind of pro-business figure speaks volumes about the changing brands of the parties and the changing political climate in the North Country.

A second interesting note: A few years ago, the Dems would have blown this decision, and blown this opportunity, appointing someone essentially unelectable.

Under June O’Neill from St. Lawrence County the party has reinvented itself as a serious, disciplined and victory-oriented powerhouse.

Bottom line? Game on.