Owens Trying to Reassure Skeptics With Strong Drum Statements

With the race for Congress won, Bill Owens is consolidating his victory by securing two key committee posts....Armed Services and Homeland Security. He is also making the assurances that will make him tougher to beat next year.
“As a member of Congress and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will fight tirelessly for the base, the surrounding community and for our entire district, all of whom benefit from Fort Drum’s presence,” Owens said Thursday.
That quote from the Press Republican is reassuring to Watertown area residents, many of whom voted for Owens but knew precious little about him.
The political establishment in the the western counties thought their local candidate, Diedre Scozzafava would win and that she had the affinity for Drum to work for its survival. After her demise most locals split down the middle between Owens and Doug Hoffman.
Bill Owens, who like Hoffman pretty much hid during the campaign, is coming out strong for Drum and that's not only a smart move but the right move.
The next key is what kind of presence Owens creates in his Watertown district office. Constituent work and liasons to local government are important. That is handled at the staff level and the coming weeks will be where the rubber hits the road for Owens and his new staff.
Mr. Owens is supporting the liberal agenda his opponents accused him of, but even his opponents on that front will be muted by effective staff and constituent work plus a bit of that pork the administration will provide their newly minted Congressman.