When you think about it, this election was seriously weird by any standard of politics.

In the end, voters had to choose between Unknown A or Unknown B , after the known candidate careened off Route 3 into a very deep ravine.

In the case of one unknown, he was a major party nominee who looked the part and ran a textbook campaign based on adherence to talking points like jobs and health care. If you like Obama policies and many do, then you like this man. A safe choice based on the optics.

The other unknown did not look the part and was painfully unaware of some key issues. The first unknown was as well, but had the sense to avoid things like editorial board meetings at papers enraged over what you were doing to the candidate who is in the ravine.

The second unknown did tap into a rage over spending and taxes and an America not as it used to be. That allowed the marketers of the first unknown to label the second an extremist.

The second unknown actually seemed a rather meek, and accountant-like typical Bob Taft style Republican. But this isn't 1950 and people want more out of government than just the national defense and a few national parks.

The surge of "Taft" was interesting and the campaign was on balance well run, but the candidate was learning along the way, and a bit of a risk, especially since you had to vote for him on a line on the ballot you have never been to before, the Conservative line.

A Republican candidate was toppled and the replacement did well, but in the end the old bromides of politics held firm.

It is a two party system; ground games matter; and when faced with the unknown, voters scamper to the center, or what they perceive as the center.

Also, Republicans need to remember the North Country is a place that depends on big government for its sustinence. It makes no sense for many to vote for a man who laments the growth of government.

There is a lot of bluster about who will compete for the GOP nod next year when there is a primary to lend legitimacy to the process.

I suspect it won't matter. By then, Rep. Owens will have established personal relationships he didn't have this year. He will be embraced by local leaders because he is the Congressman and he will get a pass because he is new.

National trends aside, it is hard to imagine a competitive race next year. And after that it's redistricting in 2012 and we can get ready to meet Rep. Maffei or Rep. Arcuri.
In all, a good nuts and bolts effort by both sides, and a terrible performance by GOP chairs in setting up the scenario that created this fascinating political theater.

Time to move on.