Biden, Giuliani lend names in upstate NY campaign

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden is trying to reinvigorate a Democrat's campaign in an upstate New York congressional race that has taken on national importance.

Meanwhile, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is calling on voters to support the surging conservative candidate in Tuesday's election.

Biden urged likely voters at a rally in Watertown to back Democratic nominee Bill Owens. Giuliani has recorded a call for Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman that says electing him is the only way to stop House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's agenda in Washington.

The campaign became furious when Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) left the race over the weekend. Her exit raised questions about GOP unity because fellow Republicans had favored Hoffman.

Among those endorsing Hoffman was former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden is helping out a Democratic congressional candidate in the final hours of an upstate New York campaign that has become a referendum on the Republican Party.

Biden spoke at a rally Monday to support Bill Owens, who is facing third-party Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the special House election Tuesday. Biden said at a hall in Watertown that Hoffman wants to continue the failed policies of the Bush-Cheney administration.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan says the candidate is talking about mainstream issues like high taxes and big spending. Ryan says Biden and Owens push extremist views.

Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) dropped out of the race Saturday and threw her support to Owens. That's raising questions about GOP unity because fellow Republicans had favored Hoffman.