Biden to attend Owens fundraiser
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s visit to Syracuse today will include a fundraiser for William L. Owens, the Democratic nominee for the 23rd Congressional District.
The 90-minute reception, which requires a minimum $1,000 contribution to attend, will be held at the law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, One Lincoln Center. For security reasons, invited guests had to indicate by Friday whether they were coming.
Mr. Owens, a Plattsburgh attorney, said it was "an honor and privilege to have the vice president's support. I look forward to working with him, President Obama, and both Republicans and Democrats in Washington to create jobs, get our economy moving again, and move our country forward."
The candidate, who is registered without party affiliation, already has received an endorsement from Democrat Charles E. Schumer, even though it was after the U.S. senator said publicly that Mr. Owens was not the party's first choice.
Mr. Biden's willingness to help Mr. Owens, who has applied to change his party enrollment to Democratic, suggests that the Obama administration is serious about winning the seat. A Democrat hasn't represented Jefferson, St. Lawrence or Lewis counties in Congress since the late 19th century.
Mr. Owens's opponents didn't share the candidate's same cheery outlook on the news.
Matthew A. Burns, a spokesman for Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava, alleged that Mr. Owens had given his opinion on President Obama's health care plan to the vice president — but was keeping it from the district's "hardworking families."
"It's time Bill Owens explains why he won't rule out taxing health care benefits — and whether he supports Washington Democrats' plan to cut Medicare for our seniors," Mr. Burns said.
Robert H. Ryan, a spokes-man for Conservative Douglas L. Hoffman, was a little sardonic.
"I'm surprised Joe Biden isn't raising money for Dede Scozzafava considering they both ran on the Working Families line last fall," he said. "It must have been hard deciding who was more liberal: Dede Scozzafava or Bill Owens."
Mr. Biden's morning plans include a stop at Syracuse University, his alma mater, for a round-table discussion on college access and affordability. He will be joined by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Arne Duncan, secretary of education.
Mr. Biden also will make an appearance at Rep. Daniel B. Maffei's luncheon and fund-raiser today at the OnCenter, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Syracuse, where both fund-raisers are being held, is in the 25th Congressional District.
