Vice president takes shots at conservatives

While praising Democratic Congressional candidate William L. Owens as a man of values, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. took shots at supporters of Mr. Owens's opponent during a campaign appearance Monday in Watertown.

Appearing at the North Side Improvement League on Mill Street, Mr. Biden claimed Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman was "handpicked" by radio host Rush Limbaugh as successor to Army Secretary John M. McHugh.

Mr. Biden said Mr. Hoffman's views are consistent with those of Mr. Limbaugh, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who he lumped together as right-wing neoconservatives who "will not tolerate" dissenting views.

"I know what they are against, but I don't know what they're for," Mr. Biden said.

He said Mr. Owens, who served in the military, "gets it" when it comes to matters that affect soldiers and would work to more closely regulate Wall Street.

"He's for making sure Wall Street doesn't run roughshod over Main Street," Mr. Biden said.

Mr. Biden, who attended Syracuse University and once was a lifeguard at Sandy Pond in Oswego County, said he came to know of and support Mr. Owens after talking to friends from college.

"The thing I like best about him is his values," Mr. Biden said. "This is a guy who's not afraid to take a stand."

Mr. Biden spoke for about a half hour before a crowd of about 250 people.

Mr. Owens also took aim at Mr. Hoffman, linking him to what he called former President George Bush's failed "failed" economic agenda.

"His campaign stands for one thing, and one thing only: the special interests that are financing his campaign and their partisan agenda," Mr. Owens said.

He said partisanship is already too prevalent in Washington and claimed it would become worse if Mr. Hoffman became the 23rd Congressional District's representative.

"We can't strengthen that partisan divide right now," he said. "We need to come together and find common sense solutions to address the challenges we're facing so we can move our country forward."

Mr. Owens said his priorities in Congress would be to create jobs, attract investments in green energy, help dairy farmers get a fair price for their milk and ensure affordable and quality health care for everyone.

"And I'm going to fight for Fort Drum, to make sure that it stays strong and our men and women in uniform are protected overseas and when they come home," he said.

The longest applause Monday was reserved for Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, who suspended her campaign for the Congressional seat Saturday. She endorsed Mr. Owens on Sunday.

"I am honored to have the support of a leader like the Assemblywoman, who I deeply respect," Mr. Owens said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for what she's accomplished."

Ms. Scozzafava did not attend Monday's rally, but her husband, Ronald P. McDougall, president of the Central Trades and Labor Council, did. Both Mr. Owens and Mr. Biden thanked Mr. McDougall for his efforts on behalf of north country workers.