ICYMI: Owens, Doheny debate in Plattsburgh

I was at a joint meeting of the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake school boards last night, so I couldn't attend or watch the WPTZ-TV debate between U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and his Republican challenger, Watertown businessman Matt Doheny. Here's what other media outlets are saying about it:

Brian Mann at North Country Public Radio writes that "Tuesday's debate at the Valcour Conference Center largely rehashed themes that have played out in a barrage of TV and radio ads, with Republican challenger Matt Doheny accusing Democratic congressman Bill Owens of embracing high taxes and big government programs." Check out the rest of his report here.

Joe LoTemplio of the Plattsburgh Press-Republican reports that the first half of the debate was "mild," but things revved up in the second half when the candidates were allowed to ask each other questions directly.

"The two both waded through the first half of the debate confidently answering questions from moderators Stephanie Gorin, George Mallet and Stewart Ledbetter about health care, the national debt, unemployment, campaign funding and the Farm Bill, but no real haymakers were thrown," LoTemplio writes.

You can read the rest of the P-R report here.

And WPTZ-TV's David Schneider filed this report.

Green Party candidate Don Hassig wasn't invited to attend the debate "because he did not meet specific criteria as a viable candidate," according to the P-R.

"WPTZ News Director Sinan Sadar said the station wanted to see candidates with an office outside their house, filings with the Federal Election Commission and at least double-digit figures in the polls, none of which Hassig has," LoTemplio reported.

Hassig called me this morning, and he was irate that WPTZ didn't let him participate.

"The Green Party is never going to get 10 percent," he said. "Because they're cutting us off at the pass."

The next debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Jefferson Community College in Watertown.