Ny-23 Special Election | The New York Observer

Doug Hoffman, Effusive as Ever

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:10:51 -0500

ALBANY—He ran for Congress as an outsider, the non-politician who was fed up with the course of government. It shouldn't be too surprising that he's never been to the State Capitol.

I found Doug Hoffman gawking at the chamber's ornate ceiling, indulging what he monotonically insisted is a deep passion for architecture, chatting with his wife Carol and the Rev. Jason McGuire, the lobbyist here who opposes same-sex marriage on behalf of a group...

Owens, Now, Comes Out for the Health Care Bill

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:16:26 -0500

ALBANY—Bill Owens, who is being sworn in as a member of Congress today, has announced his intention to vote for the health care restructuring bill backed by Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. He resisted taking a specific position on the issue throughout his campaign.

Owens announced the vote in a press release and suggested as much in Watertown yesterday. He just concluded a special election campaign against Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava and Doug Hoffman,...

Cox: Westchester Was Huge, Dede Could Have Won

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:15:26 -0500

ALBANY—Ed Cox is all about Westchester County, and Rob Astorino's upset ouster of County Executive Andy Spano.

"If we can win Westchester, that is almost as big a win as the wins which I expected to happen, and which did happen, in New Jersey and Virginia," Cox told me during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, noting the suburban county has a two-to-one Democratic enrollment advantage.

"That win by Rob Astorino was a huge...

Labor Brags About the Owens Win

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:47:57 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—It did come down to a battle of the boots here in the 23rd Congressional district, and the unions which aligned by Bill Owens at the last minute are touting their victory.

"The late labor candidate won," said Ron McDougall, the president of the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence Central Labor Council (and the husband of Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava) told me. "Certainly there was an intensified effort in the end. There were some leaders that hardly...

Paterson: 'There's No Seat Safe'

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:46:47 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—David Paterson said this is the lesson from Bill Owens' win last night: Democrats can win anything.

"I thought it demonstrates a new way that the entire state is looking at candidates, and that the Democratic Party is demonstrating the type of responsibility I think both parties aspire to, but right now I think the victor of Bill Owens and the victory of Scott Murphy in the 20th District earlier this year, and...

Democrats, Local and National, Thank Dede and Take Credit for Owens

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:23:36 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—It wasn't the political right, but rather the Democrats who sent a message in Bill Owens' successful bid to replace John McHugh in Congress.

"Tonight with the entire country watching, Upstate New Yorkers sent a message," Owens said at his victory party in Plattsburgh. "We came together tonight as Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to seek solutions--to create jobs for our workers, to bring economic development back to our communities, to fight for Fort...

Hoffman, And His Movement, Sputter Out

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:18:15 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—Doug Hoffman and his supporters gathered here to proclaim a great victory, the first peak in a populist right-wing movement that would sweep the ruling class out of office starting with a win in this Congressional district. Instead, they came up short, settling with a campaign that asserted conservative dominance over the moderate wing of the Republican Party, even if it couldn't stand up to the Republican agenda.

"This is a race that...

'It Looks Like It's Over' for Hoffman in NY-23

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:21:42 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—It looks like Doug Hoffman came up short in his bid for Congress.

With a majority of precincts reporting, the Democratic Party's Bill Owens maintained a lead of over 3,000 votes.

"It looks like it's over. Democrats were able to deliver St. Lawrence big. Jefferson County was considered the bellwether and it went for Owens, and the strong counties for Hoffman weren't all that strong: Oswego, Madison and Oneida," said Mayor Jeff Graham,...

NY-23: Recount? Probably

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:27:10 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—A Democratic lawyer who has obtained a court order impounding all paper ballot results said he doesn't expect a final result tonight.

"What's significant in terms of tonight, by our count, there are going to be about 14,000 pieces of paper out there tonight, be they military, absentee, federal special or any ballots generated at the boards will be maintained at the boards and secured," Frank Hoare just told me by phone. "It's...

June O'Neill: It's Not a Referendum, It's Just a Seat the G.O.P. Bought

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:26:27 -0500

SARANAC LAKE—June O'Neill, the Executive Committee chair of the state Democratic Party, says that the race to replace John McHugh in Congress is not a public verduct on Barack Obama's administration.

"No, it's not a referendum on Obama," she told me Tuesday afternoon. "It wasn't a referendum on Obama in New York 20 and it's not here. If you are the Republican Party and you are running inferior candidates as they do, I would...

NY-23: 'Not Tremendous' Turnout, Slashed Tires, Police

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:04:42 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—Both sides in the race to replace John McHugh in Congress are working the polling places, and not without some friction.

Sean Hennessey, the Jefferson County Democratic chairman and elections commissioner said he was making the rounds to polling places and described the turnout as "not tremendous, but relatively high for an off-year election."

He said there were some "hiccups" with optical scan voting machines his county just implemented, but that "every voter is...

Kasprzak: There Will Be Challenges

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:47:21 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—Mayor Don Kasprzak was one of the first Republican officials to openly endorse Doug Hoffman over Dede Scozzafava (before her candidacy collapsed) in his bid for Congress, and is warning there might be "challenges" for other Republicans who were late to, or have not yet arrived at, the party.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure there's going to be some challenges for those people to deal with after this election, and I've got some ideas, but...

Hoffman's Neighbor Is for Socialized Medicine and School Prayer and (Tepidly) Hoffman

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:03:28 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—The first thing Roger Metzger asked me was whether I liked almonds. The second was whether I was working for Doug Hoffman.

Metzger's café--Quiche et Crepe--is located next to Hoffman's field office in this lakeside city, and he's seen an uptick in business from the volunteers. A needed one, he says, since the closure of two suppliers to subway car manufacturer Bombardier closed, cutting into his lunch crowd.

I asked Metzger who he was...

D for Doug

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:44:29 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—Look down!

Doug Hoffman's supporters are giving out these flyers, pointing to his name on Row "D" of the ballot. We're about to find out, circumstantially, just how much of a disadvantage this location is for Hoffman--most voters are used to voting for either a Republican or a Democrat--considering Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava remains on the ballot in Row B.

Conservatives would love, of course, to take back Row...

Owens: Vote for Me, the Guy Who Loves Jobs and Dede and Is Not Doug Hoffman

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:03:50 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—Here's Bill Owens' closing argument in his Congressional bid, delivered after he cast his vote this morning at the South Plattsburgh Recreation Center.

"I think that people have a clear choice at this time. We can go backwards into the Bush agenda, which includes tax cuts for the very wealthy, privatization of social security and jobs, uh sorry, tax credits for companies that send jobs overseas. The recession, a $4.9 trillion addition to...

Long's Path Back to Row C

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:24:22 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—For Mike Long, chairman of the New York State Conservative Party, a win for Doug Hoffman in the race to replace John McHugh would be worth more than just a seat in Congress.

"Whether Hoffman wins or not, the Conservative Party has clearly driven the action in that race," said Bruce Gyory, a political consultant and adjunct professor of political science at SUNY Albany.

Over coffee last month, Gyory made the case that Hoffman...

How Labor Works (Now) for Owens

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:27:49 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—The door to Bill Owens' Durkee Street war room is marked with marker on a white board, probably because it was working against him until this Saturday.

I found half a dozen members of NYSUT and the AFL-CIO there, making calls in a fourth-floor conference center next to a pile of glossy door-hangers, water bottles and an empty pizza box. Both labor organizations came out for Owens when Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava...

Bill Owens Against Rush, Those Who Would Abuse Dede

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:11:19 -0500

PLATTSBURGH—Here's a new theme of the Owens campaign: vote for me because I'm not one of those horrible people who are mistreating Dede Scozzafava.

The Democratic Party's congressional candidate interrupted a supporter at the Clinton County Democratic headquarters here on Route 3 to call comments made by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh "obscene." This afternoon, Limbaugh said Scozzafava, a Republican assemblywoman who ended her campaign this weekend and is actively working for Owens,...

Scozzafava Calls for Owens

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:20:53 -0500

ALBANY—Dede Scozzafava has cut a robocall for Bill Owens.

The full script is below, but Scozzafava says Owens will be "the only candidate who can build upon John McHugh's lasting legacy in Congress."

Scozzafava endorsed Owens on Sunday. The robocall does not mention Hoffman--now backed by the Republican establishment--but does emphasize the race is not about her, but rather "the people of this district." Hoffman lives outside the district, so there's the veiled shot.

...

Did Same-Sex Marriage Cause Scozzafava's Collapse?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:48:24 -0500

ALBANY—What role did Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava's strong support of same-sex marriage play in the collapse of her Congressional bid?

"It was pretty significant," said Jason McGuire, who lobbies against same-sex marriage in New York (and has been on the payroll of Doug Hoffman for several weeks). He noted that conservative groups--including the National Organization for Marriage--supported Hoffman, and froze Scozzafava's ability to raise money, leading to the eventual collapse of her candidacy.

"I said...

Silver Would Welcome Scozzafava

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:09:32 -0500

ALBANY—Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he would give a "warm welcome" to Dede Scozzafava if she were to switch into his conference.

Scozzafava ended her congressional bid Saturday and, after talking with Representative Steve Israel, Silver, Chuck Schumer and Andrew Cuomo, decided to endorse the Democratic Party's candidate Bill Owens on Sunday. Republican leaders branded in "betrayal," and Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb told me there would be "frank discussions" about Scozzafava's role in...

Women for Dede, After the Fact

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:55:27 -0500

ALBANY—Now that Dede Scozzafava is out of the race to replace John McHugh in Congress, the New York chapter of the National Organization of Women has put out a statement saying that what happened to her was "a setback for the women, especially Republican women--and moderates in general."

Marcia Pappas, the organization's president, said Sunday that "sources inside the Republican party report that Scozzafava was drummed out by the ole boys' club."

"In conclusion,...

Poll: Scozzafava Exit Favors Hoffman, But 18 Percent Now Undecided

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:31:13 -0500

ALBANY—An Election Eve poll finds Doug Hoffman has taken a five point lead over Bill Owens, his remaining opponent to replace John McHugh in Congress, a six-point surge over the weekend as Owens' support remained stagnant.

Forty-one percent of the 606 "likely voters" surveyed on Sunday by Siena College said they favor Hoffman compared to 36 percent for Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee. The number of undecided voters has doubled to 18 percent from...

Kolb: There Will Be 'Frank Discussions' About Dede's Endorsement

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:46:26 -0500

ALBANY—Prominent Republicans are saying that Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava betrayed the party when she endorsed Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's pick to replace John McHugh in Congress, and there's a possibility Scozzafava will be dressed down in her legislative conference.

"After the campaign's over with we'll be sitting down with Dede and having some very frank discussions about the impact of her endorsement of Bill Owens," Assemblyman Brian Kolb, the minority leader, told me Sunday...

Scozzafava's Labor Support, Like Scozzafava, Breaks for the Democrat

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:45:07 -0500

ALBANY—In August, Larry Bulman wasn't convinced Bill Owens would win his race to replace John McHugh in Congress.

"It's simple: boots on the ground," Bulman, the Saratoga County Democratic chairman and the political director for the plumbers and steamfitters union, told me over lunch. "Which means union support. That's how we won the Murphy race, and I'm not convinced labor will be there--she's got a lot of support in labor, and it will hurt...

Doug Hoffman, Democratic Champion

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:31:12 -0500

You don't have to agree with Doug Hoffman's very conservative politics to appreciate the value of his insurgent candidacy.

This has to do with the inherently undemocratic nature of special congressional elections in New York, where a group of county chairmen - and not the rank-and-file members of a political party - selects the candidates.

Just about anywhere else in America, John McHugh's resignation this summer (to serve as Barack Obama's Army secretary) would...

Now, Scozzafava Backs Owens

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:20 -0500

ALBANY—Dede Scozzafava, a Republican assemblywoman who yesterday withdrew from the race to replace John McHugh in Congress, has thrown her support to Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's candidate.

"Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what is best for the people of this District, and how to answer your questions. This is not a decision that I have made lightly," Scozzafava said in a statement. "You know me, and throughout...

The Collapse of Dede Scozzafava, Moderate Republican

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:38:56 -0400

ALBANY—"I liken it to Nancy Pelosi," Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, the last Republican to lose a Congressional election in New York, told me Oct. 22 when I asked if there was any chance his party would abandon his colleague Dede Scozzafava's sputtering--and now defunct--Congressional bid. "She's got 25 blue dog, conservative Democrats. She doesn't say, 'Well, they're not my affiliation. They don't like abortion. They don't like same-sex marriage.' She embraces them, as part of...

Scozzafava Pulls Out

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:15:00 -0400

ALBANY—It's over for Dede Scozzafava.

The Republican assemblywoman from Gouverneur issued a statement formally suspending her campaign for Congress after a poll showed her supported by just 20 percent of voters. Scozzafava said "victory is unlikely."

She did not offer an endorsement, to either Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party's candidate or Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee; it's unclear what will happen to the unions and others who have endorsed her, and her name will still...

NY-23 Poll: Owens and Hoffman in Dead Heat, Scozzafava Dead

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:58:52 -0400

ALBANY—The closely watched special election in New York's North Country is now a two-way dead heat between Doug Hoffman and Bill Owens, a poll finds.

The result shows just how far Hoffman--the politically inexperienced accountant who is the Conservative Party's nominee for the seat--has surged over the course of the election. The Siena Research Institute poll found he has the support 35 percent of 704 "likely" voters surveyed, with the Democratic Party's Owens garnering 35...

An Independence Party Chair Flips to Hoffman

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:49:28 -0400

ALBANY—The chairman of the Jefferson County Independence Party just called to say he's now backing Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party's nominee to replace John McHugh in Congress, even as his party's line will list Republican Dede Scozzafava.

"Dede's been kind of following with the president: the stimulus, and earmarks. If you haven't got any money, how can you give it out?" John Rice, who has been the chairman for over seven years, told me...

The Local Argument for Scozzafava

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:39:16 -0400

ALBANY—As much as the fight in the 23rd Congressional district is ideological, it's also becoming a local-versus-national fight, with support for Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party's nominee, coming from beyond the 11-county district and local Republicans generally standing by Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava.

Newt Gingrich touched on this earlier this week, when he said on Fox News and WAMC that "we ought to be a little cautious about trying to impose our national genes on...

Biden For Owens, Again

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:06 -0400

ALBANY—The last minute push for Democratic Congressional candidate Bill Owens will include a visit by Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden will appear at a rally in Watertown at the Northside Improvement League. This is the second visit to the area by Biden, who during a trip to Syracuse held a fundraiser for Owens. A Democratic source familiar with campaign strategy said that a DCCC officials were also mulling a visit from Bill Clinton or...

In the NY-23 Race, Conservatives Scare the Would-Be Moderates Away

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:51:00 -0400

ALBANY—More than 200 people showed up at the New York Athletic Club Thursday night--overlooking Central Park--for a reception hosted by the state Conservative Party. George Pataki was one of them. He wasn't scheduled to speak at the event, which was held to honor former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.

But the ex-governor--a moderate, particularly by national standards--took Chairman Mike Long aside and asked if he could say a few words: he wanted to declare his...

All-In for Owens?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:58:34 -0400

ALBANY—It's nearing the end of the race to replace John McHugh in Congress. A leading Democrat just told the party is "not going to leave anything on the table" to help Bill Owens.

My mind is returning to the special election in the 20th District this spring, where the final poll showed long-shot Scott Murphy slightly ahead and the DCCC went "all in." In that race, Democrats unleashed a radio ad featuring Vice President...

NY-23 Proxy Battle: Gingrich Versus Armey All Over Again

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:54:51 -0400

Newt Gingrich made waves on Monday night when he used an appearance on Greta Van Sustern's Fox News show to take a subtle dig at Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin and Dick Armey - three of the big-name Republicans who have lent their support to Doug Hoffman's third party congressional bid in the upstate 23rd District.

"So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or...

Gingrich: A Vote for Hoffman Is a Vote for Pelosi

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:05:46 -0400

ALBANY—Former House speaker Newt Gingrich never mentioned Doug Hoffman's name during a radio appearance this morning, but had a clear message for Republicans in the 23rd Congressional District: "The vote you're going to cast for a third-party candidate is going to guarantee the election of a Democrat. If you think that adding another vote to Nancy Pelosi's majority is a good idea, that keeping Nancy Pelosi as speaker is a good idea, then it's...

Democrats Mail Against Hoffman

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:33:59 -0400

ALBANY—Doug Hoffman's campaign for Congress has crossed a new threshold: he's now being attacked directly by Democrats.

The Democratic State Committee sent these mailers to households around the district, painting Hoffman as an outsourcer. Hoffman had been thought of as a spoiler in the race toward Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee, but with more conservatives from around the country rallying to his candidacy, he's as much a contender (or more) as Republican Dede...

Paterson Endorses Owens, Republicans Put It on YouTube

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:08:03 -0400

ALBANY—David Paterson just endorsed Bill Owens to replace John McHugh in Congress.

"It's obviously a contested race," Paterson told reporters in Cape Vincent. "The Democratic candidate Bill Owens is someone who has been a businessman who has represented this country overseas, actually helped to bring troops to the base because of his sense of the community, so obviously he would be my choice for the seat. But I think he I think he...

Thompson for Hoffman, Owens (Again) for Owens

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:41:23 -0400

ALBANY—Here's Doug Hoffman's latest campaign ad, featuring an endorsement from Fred Thompson.

"America's in trouble. So when your grandchildren ask you why you didn't do something, be able to tell them you voted for Doug Hoffman," Thompson, an actor, former Tennessee senator and presidential candidate tells voters in the race to replace John McHugh in Congress. "He's not a career politician."

Thompson describes Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, as "a concerned neighbor who's just...

Scozzafava on Debate-Ducking 'Crime'

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:05:25 -0400

ALBANY—Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava just held a conference call to rag on her opponents in a special Congressional election.

Scozzafava said it was a "crime" that Bill Owens and Doug Hoffman, the Democratic and Conservative party nominees against her, are not going to a debate planned tonight at News10Now in Syracuse.

"I just have a concern that they really don't know the issues. They know the issues maybe in Washington-speak, but they don't understand the...

Palin's Money Effect

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:21:13 -0400

Here comes Sarah Palin.

In the same 24 hours that the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate endorsed Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party's pick to replace John McHugh in Congress, he has raised $116,000 online, his spokesman said.

"Yesterday's results prove that conservative Republicans from around the nation are rallying behind Doug Hoffman," Ryan said. "We're in this race to win."

Democrats, too are capitalizing. Below is a fund-raising e-mail which went...

Scozzafava Lagging in Fund-Raising, But Beating Hoffman?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:25:02 -0400

Preliminary campaign finance disclosures by the candidates vying to replace John McHugh in Congress are online, and confirm that Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava is lagging behind her Democratic opponent in fund-raising, but beats the Conservative candidate.

The Republican assemblywoman has raised $233,000 this election cycle and has loaned herself $12,000. She has $40,703 on hand, but no obligations other than the self-loan were reported.

Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee, has raised $502,000 since he...

Is There a Hoffman Scenario?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:04:51 -0400

ALBANY—Could Doug Hoffman actually win a seat in Congress?

He's been cast, understandably, in the spoiler role—the guy running to the right of Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who would siphon off enough votes from her that Bill Owens, the Democratic Party's nominee, would win the race to replace John McHugh. But the legs have been cut from underneath Scozzafava's candidacy in recent days: She's running low on cash as groups pound her with hundreds...

Dede's Second Ad

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:15:35 -0400

ALBANY—Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava has launched her second television ad in her quest to replace John McHugh in Congress.

It's the second spot from the Republican from Gouverneur, and unlike her first, it is not a completely positive endeavor. It's a classic "contrast" spot.

The ad questions Democrat Bill Owens' claim that he created 2,000 jobs in the district, saying the Watertown Daily Times caught him "red-handed." It also claims he would raise income taxes...

McHugh's War Chest Will Stay Put

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:23:53 -0400

ALBANY—At least for now, former-Representative John McHugh's war chest will sit idle.

The Republican North Country congressman resigned from the seat last month to become Secretary of the Army under Barack Obama. According to the most recent quarterly filing, McHugh has $142,063 on hand.

"The Committee will be inactive except for administrative expenses related to bookkeeping and reporting.," Lisa Lisker, the campaign treasurer, wrote in an e-mail. "Quarterly reports will continue to be filed...

Seaway Valley De-Registers Common Stock

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:15:32 -0400

ALBANY—Seaway Valley Capital Corporation, the struggling company controlled by Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava's brother Tom, has de-registered its common stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a filing the company submitted earlier this month.

The de-registration exempts Seaway Valley Capital Corp., the holding company of a hardware chain and several restaurant companies, from sending quarterly and annual filings to the SEC. It also prevents the company's common stock from being traded on any...

Tedisco to Scozzafava: Stick to Your Record

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:18:22 -0400

ALBANY—Assemblyman Jim Tedisco had some advice for his colleague Dede Scozzafava, who like he did last spring, is running in a special Congressional election: stay the course.

"Just keep working hard," Tedisco told me by phone. "It's always a battle when somebody tries to distort your record. The Democrats are very good at that. Dede's got a record, he doesn't."

Just like Tedisco's race against Scott Murphy. And vastly more money is being committed...

Republicans Ponder Scozzafava, Attack Still-Balking Aubertine

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:55:00 -0400

ALBANY—Republicans are lashing out at State Senator Darrel Aubertine, the most likely Democratic candidate to succeed John McHugh in Congress, releasing this TV ad tomorrow and a robocall painting him as a tax-and-spend liberal. "Call Darrel Aubertine. Tell him he voted for too much spending," says the ad, which the National Republican Congressional Committee says will start airing tomorrow. The G.O.P. has been bracing for an Aubertine candidacy, but moved to attack before he was (or...

Republicans Undertake an Actual Open Nominating Process for the McHugh Seat

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:40:00 -0400

ALBANY—Republicans are determined not to let the special election in the 23rd Congressional District be a repeat of their against-the-odds loss earlier this year in the 20th District, starting with the selection process. While the Capitol melted, the Republican State Committee detailed a system of four candidate forums in various parts of the district, where any candidate seeking to replace John McHugh, who has accepted Barack Obama's nomination to be secretary of the Army, can...