Conservatives look ahead to 2014

The results aren't even final in the race for New York's 21st Congressional District, but some folks are looking ahead to 2014 nonetheless.

Watertown businessman Matt Doheny, who ran on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines, lost to Democratic incumbent Bill Owens , and in a thank-you letter to supporters Doheny said he will step out of the political spotlight for the time being to spend time with his wife, Mary, who he married in July.

After Doheny delivered his concession speech, Oliver Barie of the Upstate New York Tea Party reached out to me on Twitter, asking who might run against Owens in 2014. A few names were floated, including Tupper Lake village Mayor Paul Maroun, who is also a Franklin County legislator, and newly-elected Assemblyman Dan Stec, a Republican from Queensbury.

Oliver and I, as well as former Watertown Daily Times political reporter Brian Amaral, all forgot to mention Kellie Greene's name, at least initially. Greene is the conservative Republican who lost to Doheny in a June primary.

I spoke to Greene this morning and asked her if she might consider a run against Owens in 2014.

"Why wouldn't I?" she responded. "It’s early. The count is still not in on the race.

"I’ve been discussing things," Greene added. "I need to reach out to the people in the Republican Party. I’m thinking it might be a little too soon. ... I told my supporters on primary night: Don't get rid of your (Greene for Congress) T-shirts."

Meanwhile, Amaral posted this email penned by Doug Hoffman on his blog, The Public Interest, over the weekend. Amaral has left the Watertown paper to take a job in New Jersey.

In the email, Hoffman, an accountant from Lake Placid who ran unsuccessfully against Owens in 2009 and 2010, tells fellow conservatives to keep fighting for their cause.

"We need to continue the battles (I mean this in a political sense, not violence sense), not for us, but for our grandchildren and many more generations to come," Hoffman writes. "If not us, then who will? If not now, then when? As in any war, it gets very lonely, discouraging and bleak in the mist of losing battles with no end or victory in sight. It is really the darkest just before the dawn. Certainly today is the darkest we have seen.

"Pessimists give up and lose, optimists find a way and win," he continues. "Let's all be optimistic and keep fighting and looking for the way to the ultimate victory. Are you optimistic, are you with me? If so, let's fight on!"

This email is by no means an announcement that Hoffman is planning a third run for Congress in 2014, but it does show that he intends to stay active. Remember: He endorsed Doheny in June, one day after the Republican primary, and later endorsed conservative Assembly candidate Karen Bisso. So Hoffman wasn't entirely out of the picture in this election cycle.

Anyway, I know it's extremely early to be looking at the 2014 race, but it's my job to let you know what people are saying. As always, feel free to share your thoughts.