WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Race for N.Y. House Seat Heats Up

Race for N.Y. House Seat Heats Up

Plattsburgh, New York - November 1, 2009

Carolyn Prasch doesn't even live in New York, but the chair of the Grand Isle Democratic Party is volunteering for Bill Owens' campaign. She spent Sunday knocking on doors and handing out campaign pamphlets, trying to help the Democratic candidate get elected to Congress. "All the volunteering I do for the Democratic Party is for my grandchildren," she said. "We're concerned about their future."

Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman are vying in a special election to represent the state's 23rd district. John Hart of Peru, N.Y., is campaigning for Hoffman.
"If we're all going to be happy campers, we've got to be fiscally secure first," he said. "Otherwise this is going to be a mess."

"I love the idea that he's not a politician," said George Devereaux, a Hoffman supporter from Beekmantown, N.Y. "My God I love that idea."

It's a district that has been represented by Republicans for more than a hundred years, but Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race on Saturday. In a statement to supporters, she cited a lack of money: "As I've been outspent on both sides, I've been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record."

"Just because things were going so badly for her, we thought it was probably best that she did pull out," said Anne Devereaux, who is supporting Hoffman.

Scozzafava's announcement followed a Siena College poll that had her trailing her opponents. Bill Owens had the support of 36 percent of those polled, followed closely by Doug Hoffman at 35 percent. Scozzafava had dropped to 20 percent in the survey released Saturday.

After her announcement, Doug Hoffman, who was campaigning in Plattsburgh with former New York Gov. George Pataki, said he would look to his former rival for help.
"I value her knowledge and experience that she has with her constituents in the 23rd district," Hoffman told reporters Saturday. "And that knowledge and experience is going to be very valuable for me when I'm the congressman representing these people in the 23rd district, so I look forward to working very, very closely with Assemblywoman Scozzafava."

But Sunday, the Republican announced she is endorsing the Democrat in the race, Bill Owens. Scozzafava said Owens would be "an independent voice" for New York.

With a race this tight, voter turnout becomes critical -- candidates have to make sure voters cast their ballots. "It's a get-out-the-vote effort to remind people Tuesday's the big day for us," Owens supporter Prasch said as she canvassed a neighborhood in Morrisonville, N.Y.

Kate Duffy - WCAX News