Obama's NYC trip to raise aid for Owens

President Barack Obama will raise funds for William L. Owens, the Democratic candidate in the 23rd Congressional District race, during an Oct. 20 visit to New York City.

Mr. Obama will host an afternoon reception in Mr. Owens' honor, limited to 50 people, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Columbus Circle. The event will cost $4,800 per person to attend, although federal campaign finance laws limit Mr. Owens to using just half on this special election.

This is the first fundraiser that the president has headlined for a non-incumbent House candidate. Mr. Obama also plans to attend a Democratic National Committee fundraiser later that evening at the hotel.

"It's an honor to have the president's backing and I'm grateful that he is taking the time to support our campaign," said Mr. Owens, a Plattsburgh attorney, in a statement. "I look forward to working with President Obama in Congress where I'll join his efforts to create jobs and get our economy back on track."

This is the second time a top White House official has appeared on Mr. Owens' behalf. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. attended a Sept. 9 fundraiser for the Democratic candidate in Syracuse. That event required a minimum $1,000 contribution to attend.

Mr. Owens is opposed in the race by Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava, Gouverneur, and Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman, Lake Placid.

Matthew A. Burns, Ms. Scozzafava's spokesman, said the event demonstrated how "out of touch" Mr. Owens was with the district's residents.

"He made $750,000 last year as a corporate lawyer, so it's no surprise he couldn't find time to attend a health care forum in Plattsburgh last week," the spokesman said. "Nor does it come as a surprise that he repeatedly blew off seniors seeking to meet with him in St. Lawrence County. At the end of the day, all the money in the world can't convince people of the 23rd Congressional District that Bill Owens is one of us — or that he understands the struggles of hard-working families and seniors."

Robert H. Ryan, Mr. Hoffman's spokesman, said: "It's no surprise that President Obama is doing a fundraiser for Bill Owens. After all, they are both liberal Democrats. Bill Owens needs to tell us: If he gets elected, will he be supporting the public health option, cap and trade, card checks and a host of other far-left legislation that Obama and Nancy Pelosi are trying to push through Congress?"