Why muddled? Because I called last week Week Four. So, here’s our first full-fledged correction: This is Week Four.<\/p>\n
Now on to the pressing developments…<\/p>\n
Let’s start with Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Then he issued a statement condemning President Barack Obama’s decision to bag a land-based missile defense system in eastern Europe.<\/p>\n
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…<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If Aubertine pushes hard for Owens, it could shape the dynamic considerably.<\/p>\n