Over the last two days, Congressman Bill Owens (D - Plattsburgh) has traveled across all ten counties spanning the enormous new 16,500 square mile 21st Congressional District in northern New York State, which spans from Watertown to Plattsburgh to the Saratoga Springs area. Today, Bill was campaigning and meeting with volunteers in Saratoga County, who are helping to get out the vote in the crucial, heavily populated suburbs around the City of Saratoga Springs, which are now home to a significant percentage of the district's population.
(Congressman Bill Owens phone banking in Saratoga County)
(Congressman Bill Owens with 113th Assembly District candidate Carrie Woerner. Woerner is challenging incumbent right-wing Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R) in a district that includes eastern Saratoga County and most of Washington County)
In 2004, grassroots politics and activism helped to propel Howard Dean's presidential campaign to success. Today, that same grassroots activism can be seen in the Bill Owens campaign in Upstate New York, as well as many other Democratic congressional campaigns across the country. Through the use of over 200 dedicated volunteers and an extensive door-to-door, get out the vote effort, the Bill Owens campaign is now helping to build a base of progressive support in an area which has long been a bastion of Republican strength since the Civil War. These efforts will not only help Owens, but will also assist several excellent down-ballot candidates throughout the region, such as New York State Assembly candidate Carrie Woerner (D), a technology businesswoman from Saratoga County who is challenging incumbent Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R) of Washington County.
Additionally, today Bill Owens also gained additional momentum from the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton, who recorded an automated message encouraging 21st Congressional District voters to support Owens's re-election:
"Bill's got a strong record of fighting for middle-class families in upstate New York, and he has what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy," the message from Clinton says. "He knows we have to balance the budget, and do it in the right way by cutting wasteful spending and not giving more tax breaks to millionaires. I'm proud to support Bill Owens because he's the only candidate who will fight for middle-class families and their future."
With the endorsement of President Clinton, the hard work of volunteers, as well as a strong
economic record in Congress of working to help improve the Upstate New York economy, Bill Owens appears to be building a significant base of support for re-election to a third term in Congress.