Schumer late with praise for Owens, Dem nominee

LOWVILLE — U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer blew his first chance Tuesday to praise his party's nominee in the 23rd Congressional District. The Democrat wasted little time making amends.

Mr. Schumer, the Senate's third-highest ranking member, was on his first visit to the north country since John M. McHugh, the district's House representative, was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Army secretary. He was asked at a Lewis County event to handicap the chances of Mr. McHugh's potential successors: Democratic nominee William L. Owens, Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava and Conservative Douglas L. Hoffman.

"I'm not going to handicap it. It's too early to tell. Too many candidates," the senator said. "Obviously, from our side the strongest candidate would have been (Darrel) Aubertine, but he's not going to run. So I don't have much to say about it other than that."

Mr. Schumer then traveled to Ogdensburg for an event on invasive algae. Ms. Scozzafava attended, even though the meeting was not in her Assembly district. Matthew A. Burns, the Republican nominee's campaign spokesman, said his boss was invited by Mr. Schumer's office.

As the intrigue mounted, Mr. Schumer looked to defuse the situation by releasing a statement endorsing Mr. Owens.

"I am proud to support the expected Democratic candidate for the 23rd district, Bill Owens, who was supported unanimously by the district's Democratic county chairs," Mr. Schumer said. "Bill is an Air Force veteran — a captain, who served at Plattsburgh Air Base — and an attorney who has devoted his career to economic development and bringing jobs to the north country. He is just the kind of community leader we need in Washington. I look forward to supporting his candidacy and to serving with him in the U.S. Congress."

Mr. Schumer's endorsement could help Mr. Owens, who is registered without party affiliation, win the support of Democratic loyalists.

But it's an odd pairing, for at least one reason.

Mr. Owens has made just two political contributions in the past 10 years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Plattsburgh attorney sent $750 between July 1997 and September 1998 to former U.S. Sen. Alfonse M. D'Amato, a Republican who was unseated that fall by Mr. Owens's new ally, Mr. Schumer.