PORT HENRY, N.Y. -
The race for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District keeps getting closer. Incumbent democrat Bill Owens now leads republican challenger Matt Doheny by only one point according to a poll conducted by Siena Research Institute released Thursday. That margin is within the poll's sampling error +/- 3.9%.
Bill Owens received the support of 44% of likely voters while Matt Doheny had 43%. It was a significant shift from the last poll by the Siena Research Institute. On September 10th Bill Owens lead 49% to Doheny's 36%.
Both candidates say they were expecting a close race from the beginning.
"The fact that it is a close race we were always anticipating. For that to be the case we're just getting out doing what we need to do," Congressman Owens said.
"We're going into the final five days and it's neck and neck," Doheny told WNYF.
The two candidates have faced off before. In 2010 the two were challenging for New York's 23rd Congressional District. The race ended with Owens winning by just more than a point and this time could be just as close.
Owens said that even though his lead has all but disappeared in the Siena Research Institute poll he says he hasn't lost any momentum.
"This is really just a little bit of movement that goes on in every poll," Congressman Owens said.
The movement that matters in the end though is whether the supporters of both candidates head to the polls on November 6th. Many New Yorkers in Port Henry said they still hasn't made up their mind or been following the race. Both candidates will be touring the district over the next few days and some of those undecided voters might get the chance to meet the candidates and make up their minds.
