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Election Day in New York

Plattsburgh, New York - November 3, 2009

It's Election Day. In Northern New York voters are deciding many local officials, but the most watched is the 23rd Congressional District.

This district has been represented by Republicans for more than 150 years. Tonight Democrat Bill Owens hopes to reverse that trend. He had been gaining momentum in the polls throughout the campaign until yesterday when the Siena College Poll showed him dropping behind Doug Hoffman in what had suddenly become a two-party race.

Of course the only poll that really counts is the one that is happening at voting booths across the district right now.

Inspectors at this polling place in Plattsburgh say turnout has been unusually high for an off year election, largely driven by the race for Congress.

Democrat Bill Owens cast his ballot in his hometown of Plattsburgh this morning, and then spent the day stumping for last-minute votes.

"I certainly am confident I think our message has gotten out and is resonating with people and we believe we're going to move forward," Owens said.

Historically the North County had been Republican territory. But last year a Democrat won the neighboring 20th District. Bill Owens is hoping to continue that trend tonight.

But Owens will have to overcome the surprise front-runner in this race. Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman made a late surge to the top of the polls.

"We are fighting like the underdog. We want to make sure that we don't lose this by a couple votes and we know the Democrats are fighting everything but the kitchen sink at us," Hoffman said.

Hoffman spent the day campaigning all across the 23rd district, including stops at campaign headquarters where volunteers were busy making calls to remind people to vote.

He said his campaign is all about the grassroots effort and he hopes the Republican Party takes note and uses the energy of his campaign to help with the 2010 elections.

Hoffman has had an incredible rise to the top during the campaign, starting off in third place in the polls behind Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens and now he is polling just a few points ahead of Owens with Scozzafava out of the race.

"I'm very surprised to be considered the front-runner and very honored to be," Hoffman said. "I think that it shows that my message that I've been sending out that we need somebody to go to Washington to fight against the Nancy Pelosi agenda."