In what I believe is a first in the 21st Congressional District, a "super PAC" has entered the fray between Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and Republican Matt Doheny.

The Congressional Leadership Fund is out with a news release saying that Mr. Owens "may have shredded the last of his credibility" for crossing party lines to vote to extend the Bush tax cuts in their entirety (Mr. Owens says he was taking a pragmatic approach, and the bill is exceedingly unlikely to become law).

Here is Politico's take on the Congressional Leadership Fund, which former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman runs. Politico calls it the "unofficial official" super PAC of House Speaker John Boehner.

Super PACs can receive unlimited donations from people, corporations or unions and they don't have to disclose their donors. This is the first election cycle during the brave new world of super PACs, which are legal because of a recent Supreme Court decision.

Democrats, too, will get involved in the super PAC game.

I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear from the new advocacy groups.

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