The Democrats have picked an unconventional candidate for the upcoming special election in New York’s 23rd District, where GOP Rep. John McHugh has been nominated by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army.
Democrats have selected attorney Bill Owens, an attorney and Air Force veteran, to go up against socially-liberal Republican state Rep. Dede Scozzafava for the special election, which has not had a date set yet. Here’s the thing: Owens says he does not favor a public option, though he does favor various other progressive measures to regulate insurance companies and to expand coverage. He is also technically not a Democrat — he’s a registered independent.
Obama carried this district by 52%-47% in 2008, though it had gone to Republican presidential candidates in previous cycles.
“This is proof-positive that the Democrats’ health care takeover is a political loser even in Blue America,” said a statement from NRCC spokesman Ken Spain. “The only remaining question is whether Nancy Pelosi will call him ‘un-American’ for siding with public opinion.”
