23rd Congressional District
Vice President Joe Biden in Watertown with democrat Bill Owens.
Vice President Joe Biden spent the morning in a Watertown hall encouraging voters in the 23rd congressional district to vote for democrat Bill Owens in tomorrow's special election. The vice president recalled his days as a law student in Syracuse where he spent his summers lifeguarding at Sandy Pond on Lake Ontario. He used that foundation to explain to the crowd of 150 people that he understood the voters of the district.
The vice president said,"This is a place where integrity matters. It matters a whole lot. A place where they have strong views, but it doesn't mean they have closed minds. A place where people know what they believe, but don't stop listening to another point of view." Biden expressed concern about Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman because of the people who are supporting his campaign like conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
Before introducing the vice president, Bill Owens pledged his support to the Army's 10th Mountain Division which is based in Fort Drum just outside of Watertown. Vice President Biden touted Owens experience in the military as making him qualified to keep Fort Drum on the agenda in Washington. This is the second time Biden has made an appearance with Owens. The first was several weeks ago in Syracuse at a fundraiser at a Syracuse law office.
Owens trails Hoffman by a few percentage points in the latest Sienna College Poll that was taken on Sunday. Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race over the weekend. She has now thrown her support behind democrat Bill Owens.
More political star power is coming out in the final hours of the campaign including phone and satellite tours from former Governor George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on behalf of Hoffman. Former presidential candidate Fred Thompson is also appearing for Hoffman tonight in Watertown.
