WASHINGTON (CNN)– In New York's 23rd congressional district, Democratic candidate Bill Owens is capitalizing on Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava's last-minute decision to drop out of the special election as a final opportunity to tie Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to former President Bush.
In a statement released by his campaign, Owens praised Scozzafava for her dedication as a public servant, but said his focus in the final days remains on showing voters the contrast between himself and Hoffman.
"Voters have a clear choice on Tuesday: they can elect to go back to the George Bush economic agenda, or they can vote to move forward," Owens said. "Doug Hoffman and the Club for Growth's extremist agenda won't do a thing to get our economy moving again. "...I will fight to turn the page on that agenda. I will work to create jobs Upstate to get our economy back on track because that is the type of leadership we need right now in Congress."
Vice President Joe Biden is heading back to New York's 23rd congressional district Monday to campaign for Owens the day before the special election.
Biden, who also campaigned with Owens in September, will appear in Watertown. Earlier this month, President Obama made an appearance at a fundraiser for Owens in New York City.
- CNN's Shirley Zilberstein and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story.
no more GOP
this country cannot take it, 8 years of ravage to put money in the pockets of Cheney through Halliburton
Worth it? Do you know someone that has lost a job or been foreclosed on?
We have been brought to the brink and are just barely able to more forward with a lot pain after being taken by the GOP lead Rove movement, with the figurehead Bush
Biden campaigning up to the day before the election? Sounds
like panic time at the White House.
Desperation. Now the republican vote may not be split, so Owens invokes President Bush. Pathetic. Anyway Mr. Owens, it would appear the voters are already well aware of the differences between you and Mr. Hoffman.
Good comparison, since in many respects we are starting to miss Bush. He was doing what he was saying he is doing....and even if you did not like some of his policy, at least you knew what they were!
Tying a candidate to Bush is far fetched. The fact is Hoffman is a Conservative candidate. This has nothing to do with Bush. And Bush is gone. There are millions of Conservative Americans who are proud of America and America's Judeo-Christian values that have made America great. The best candidate for America will win.
Brilliant!
Sarah Palin wrote on her Facebook: Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty. Not sure what why the Democrats are against those principles. Maybe they are the ones out of touch with Americans.
Somebody is starting to play dirty, nobody wants a dem in office right now... PALIN changed this race!!
We don't need extremists of any kind in any part of this country. The far-right-wing nutjobs are taking away our rights as we speak. They want to control women and force them to live in the dark ages.
Sacrificial lamb: always the good of the party – seldom for the good of the country. Will someone tell me what conservatives have ever accomplished in government that was good for all Americans? Have they ever been able to put their ,money where their mouth is and make something positive happen? Can they govern or only whine .... ???
Here we have again a person that does not live in reality and tries to place blame on an agenda that help make our country have a strong economy.
The economy bust had nothing to do with the Bush agenda. It had everything to do with a housing market out of hand.
Bush tried to pull the housing market in before it went belly up but people like Frank and Waters kept lying though their teeth about it being just fine.
If any one care to look then please do and be sure to notice that things were going well until liberal voters put these left wing nut jobs back in charge of the house. Notice how bad things got after 2006 elections?
Democrats create the problem then tell people how these same Democrats can fix it.
If Americans are that dumb to believe them then yes keep voting these idiots back into office and wait to see what new problems they can create and maybe they will improve it so much that it will make their previous problems even worst!
If Owens supports the chaos in the WH and Congress right now with all the lack of common sense......this moderate democrat says support the candidate with the most 'common sense' regardless of party. If you plan to quit wasting my taxpayer dollars on ear marks, stimulas, and bail outs, as well as working to insure the uninsured, and not the illegals, and not use my tax payer dollars for abortion, then vote for that party............COMMON SENSE is what we are lacking in Washington!
Owens, fight your local and current battle. George Bush is no longer in office – he lives in Texas as a private citizen. Operate within your New York political setting!!
I don't care about rejecting W. That's passe. What Owens needs to do is reject Obama and Pelosi and say he is a Blue Dog. His only chance
Wingnuts have run Dede away and left Hoffman holding their bag of their waste. Owens is using the right slant. It worked like a charm a year ago.
Bush was a big government far-left president – he greatly expanded and centralized power into the federal government.
I have a feeling Hoffman is a more small government guy. He's not a career politician.
Democrats and liberals love President Bush. The way they keep talking about him.
So Owens is using the Obama campaign approach.....Blame Bush....Got Obama elected, but it sure won't get him re-elected. The "Blame Bush" is old and the American people aren't buying it any longer.
I hate organized religion & everyone who puts religion in politics. All Christians are hypocrites. Just live your life and realize Jesus would prolly not like any of you, especially the bigots that hate immigrants & Obama
Palin may have started this race, she is not the one who finished. I have been watching this race closely and I see a lot of faces from the GOP. Do not give any of these politicans anymore ego problems. We have a lot to take care of and all the crowing is just that; crowing. She did not change that race; I say again a repub has been in this office for many many years. So what did she change.? I wish people will look at history and the truth.