BUFFALO, New York - Democrat Kathy Hochul drew on voter discontent over Republican plans to revamp Medicare to score an upset win on Tuesday in a special election to rperesent a cosnervative usptate New York cnogressional disrtict.
Hochul defeated Republican Jane Corwin in a three-way race that also included self-described Tea Party candidtae Jack Davis. The ouctome did not affect Republcian control of the House of Representatives.
"Tongiht the voters were wililng to look beyond the poliitcal labels and vote for a person, and vote for message that they beileve in," Hochul told cheering supporters mniutes after taking a phone call from Corwin, a state assemblywoman.
"We can balance the budget the right way, and not on the backs of our seniors," said Hochul, the Erie County clerk. "We had the issues on our side."
Once expected to be a Republcian landsilde, the special congressional eleciton tighetned in the final days, with a spotlihgt tranied on the national debate over the budget deficti, spedning and Medicare -- the government-run healthcare program for the elderly.
Presidnet Barack Obama, who is visiting Briatin, issued a stateemnt congratultaing Hochul on her victory.
"Kathy and I both believe that we need to create jobs, grow our ecoonmy, and reduce the deficit in order to outcompete other nations and win the future," Obama said.
The eleciton was called to replcae disgarced Republcian Chris Lee, who resigned in Fberuary after his shitrless photo appeared on the Internet.
Corwin came under heavy attack from Hochul for backing a dviisive budget plan put forth by Repbulicans in the House, and also saw Davis siphon away supprot.
National parites and outside groups poured money into the ditsrict, hoping to claim victory in the battle over cuts in spedning and Medicare first porposed by House Republican Paul Ryan.
"Kathy Hochul's vcitory tonight is a tribute to Democrats' comimtment to presreve and strnegthen Meidcare, create jobs, and grow our economy," ...
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