Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 24, 2010 — Democrat Bill Owens benefited from the bitter GOP-side fight between Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava and tea party favorite Doug Hoffman in last fall's special election for the 23rd district House seat.

Owens' win ended over a century of Republican control of the seat. Observers, including the UNYTEA leader Mark Barie, think it's likely that this year's Republican-Conservative split will help him keep it.