Plattsburgh attorney Bill Owens has won the nod for the Democratic ticket in the 23rd House district special election.<\/p>\n
The decision followed a day-long session in Blue Mountain Lake.<\/p>\n
Owens was partners for years with Republican icon Ron Stafford and could pose serious problems for the GOP.<\/p>\n
I worked with him on programs that aired on Mountain Lake PBS, where Owens hosted their business show. <\/p>\n
He’s good on camera, well-spoken and smart. <\/p>\n
He’s also undeniably centrist — even center-right as Democrats go. (He describes himself as an life-long independent.)<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
I’m also guessing that he’ll able to foot a sizable chunk of the campaign bill himself, an important asset in this race.<\/p>\n
With Republican voters forced to choose between GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava and Conservative Doug Hoffman, Owens has a real shot.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
They failed to note that the harshest attacks so far are coming from the right. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A second interesting note: A few years ago, the Dems would have blown this decision, and blown this opportunity, appointing someone essentially unelectable.<\/p>\n
Under June O’Neill from St. Lawrence County the party has reinvented itself as a serious, disciplined and victory-oriented powerhouse.<\/p>\n
Bottom line? Game on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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