Hoffman has "good mentors" in people like Glenn Beck

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate for the 23rd Congressional District, was back on Glenn Beck's radio show today to talk about the race.

And while two were chatting, Mr. Hoffman mentioned that he considered Mr. Beck as one of his mentors.

Here's the exchange:

HOFFMAN: I have good mentors here.

BECK: Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Are they mentors that will show you —

HOFFMAN: I'm talking about you Glenn.

BECK: Oh, ok. As long as they're standing out from the shadows. It's not somebody going: "Doug, I tell ya what. You just sign away your soul and I'll make you king of the universe." Because those people are coming.

HOFFMAN: No, well, I'm going to keep in touch with people like you so I don't get infected with that disease.

My paper has talked often about how this race has co-opted by national interests, such as the aim by Mr. Beck and others to rid the Republican Party of its moderates.

I'm hoping whoever wins Tuesday has far more local mentors than national ones. They are many bills that our next congressman will vote on that have real and measured impacts on the local economy and environment. And Mr. Beck likely knows little and likely cares little about the unique issues - Seaway, dairy farms, power, acid rain in the Adirondacks, to name a few - that impact our lives.

If Mr. Beck and Mr. Hoffman want to engage in a little give-and-take every once in a while, that's probably fine with a lot of the district residents.

But, whoever wins, I think we'd all like there to be a proper prioritization from that congressman or congresswoman: our voices first, outside opinions second.