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 may be endemic or reflect a certain sort of view, Senator Aubertine has, and I hope that I have, which is sort of an evolved Democratic party, where there’s still the sort of desire for equity in the social area but also discipline in the financial areas, which I think may be surprising people.”
Immediately, Republicans posted the endorsement on YouTube. It’s not the first time the right has tried to make Paterson a problem for Owens. He has already appeared at a fund-raising dinner with Owens, but was not present today. Republicans attack Paterson as a liberal whose party raised taxes in the past budget, which is not the message Owens is trying to send.
Also, Paterson probably meant to say “jobs” instead of “troops.” Owens has claimed he helped create 2,000 jobs in the North Country district, including 500 he claims were done at the Plattsburgh Air Base.
