SPECIAL ELECTION - AT 7:28 A.M. ET:  From The New York Times:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Two months ago, it would have been hard for the most ardent political wonk to find the state's 20th Congressional District on a map. On Tuesday, it will be the center of the American political landscape, with Republicans hoping desperately a win there will knock President Barack Obama off stride and Democrats looking to build on the momentum of the past two years.

Republican Jim Tedisco, a state legislator for 27 years, faces Democrat Scott Murphy, a businessman who has the backing of the president and influential unions. The special election is to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, who was named to the U.S. Senate in January after former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton became secretary of state.

COMMENT:  Too much is being made of this.  The 20th is nominally Republican, but has been trending Democratic.  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the most recent congresswoman from the district, is a moderate Democrat. 

The national parties will spin the result as either significant or insignificant, depending on whether they win or lose.

March 30, 2009