North Country voters head to the polls

It’s Election Day: an off-year election day. The special election for the North Country’s 23rd district congressional seat wasn't expected to get much attention. But a lot of things happened that weren't supposed to in this race. The campaign started with three candidates, and ends with two: Democrat Bill Owens and surprise contender Conservative Doug Hoffman. Republican Dierdre Scozzafava is out, though she was the early favorite in a district that hadn't elected a Democrat in over a century. Hoffman started a distant third and was viewed as a spoiler at best, cutting away at Scozzafava's support and perhaps opening the door for Owens.

This past weekend, Scozzafava abruptly quit the race after falling in the polls under persistent attacks, mostly from Hoffman supporters on the Conservative right, who accused her of being too liberal because of her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Scozzafava backed Owens, and campaigned for the Democrat. Voters have the final say of course. Martha Foley spoke with Brian Mann at a polling place in Saranac Lake this morning.