Jane Corwin sees early lead dissolve after coming out in favour of Republican plan to cut millions from Medicare
Democrats have won a heavily Republican upstate New York congressional seat, in a special election that was regarded as a potential bellwether for US national elections next year.
Erie County clerk Kathy Hochul edged past Republican state assemblywoman Jane Corwin to win the seat in the 26th congressional district in north-west New York state.
The rural-suburban district between Buffalo and Rochester is one of the state's most conservative. But Corwin saw her early lead dissolve after coming out in favour of a Republican budget plan that would cut billions from Medicare, the popular government healthcare plan for senior citizens.
The Democratic victory in the strongly Republican district came just six months after the Republicans rode discontent over the soaring deficit and fragile economic recovery to a sweeping victory in November's congressional elections. The Republicans picked up 63 seats to regain control of the House of Representatives and trimmed the Democrats' majority in the Senate.
Hochul's victory gives the Democrats hope that they can use voters' anxiety over Republican proposals to overhaul Medicare to their advantage in November 2012, when all seats in the House and a third of seats in the Senate are on the ballot. President Barack Obama will also be seeking re-election.
At the same time, Republicans find themselves on the political defensive on the Medicare issue, exhibiting significant internal strains for the first time since last autumn's electoral gains.
With 89% of precincts reporting, Hochul had 48% of the vote, compared with 42% for Corwin. A third candidate, Jack Davis, with 9%, also siphoned votes away from Corwin by running as a supporter of the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement.
Scores of Hochul supporters, roaring with delight and chanting "Kathy, Kathy, Kathy," jammed into a UAW union hall in Buffalo suburb Amherst for Hochul's victory speech. The crowd chanted "Medicare, Medicare."
The seat became vacant in February when Republican Chris Lee, who won in 2010 with 74% of the vote, resigned after shirtless photos he sent to a woman surfaced online.
The 26th congressional district was one of only four districts in the state out of 29 that favoured Republican John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008.
But Corwin, a multimillionaire state assemblywoman, watched her lead evaporate after expressing support for a plan crafted by House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan to strip billions from Medicare. Corwin said she supported the Ryan plan as a way to ensure Medicare for future generations.
Under Ryan's proposal, Medicare would remain unchanged for those 55 or older, including the millions who receive healthcare under the programme. Anyone younger would be required to obtain coverage from a private insurer when they turn 65, with the government providing a voucher to subsidise part of the cost of premiums.
Hochul quickly seized on Corwin's position and cast herself as the protector of Medicare in a district with a large population of voters over 55. Hochul's ads said that she wants to reduce government spending, but blasted Corwin for favouring Medicare cuts "to pay for more tax cuts for multimillionaires". Corwin tried to shift her position, suggesting she would favour changing the Ryan plan if elected.
The race had long been expected to be an easy victory for Republicans, but once the race turned unexpectedly competitive both national parties and several independent groups poured in more than $2m (£1.23m) to sway voters.
Lee, who had just started his second term, abruptly resigned after a gossip website published a shirtless mobile phone picture he had sent to a woman he had been flirting with on Craigslist, the classified ads website.
Tuesday's vote will not have an immediate effect on the balance of power in Washington. Republicans still hold a commanding majority in the House.
A recent Associated Press-GFK poll found that most Americans do not believe Medicare has to be cut to balance the federal budget.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/25/democrat-wins-conservative-upstate-new-york-race
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