Growing up in the late 1970s near Lake Placid, New York, I vividly remember the burgeoning Olympic presence, with its raccoon mascot, visitors from the City, and Bauer skates. Especially the Bauer skates.
My six-year-old mind was convinced a pair of Bauer skates would not only let me follow the big kids as they shoveled off a make-shift hockey rink on the lake, but that Bauers were key to assisting in any playground hockey victory. Yes, it was before I learned what advertising and branding were all about.
This evening, Lake Placid is the center of attention for a different reason: NY 23's third-party candidate is none other than Lake Placid's Doug Hoffman, who lives close by to where John Brown's body lies a moulderin' in the grave.
Hoffman's the one Sarah Palin went rogue for a few weeks back, endorsing him over the Republican candidate, who has since withdrawn from the race and is now backing her Democratic opponent. Final election results may be delayed until tomorrow, as the area's trying out some new voting machines.
This article on Hoffman uses the "Miracle on Ice" as a framing device that will resonate well with those in and around Lake Placid.
[Update: While this was a personal reminiscence of growing up in the district, perhaps Hoffman should have run a local campaign, rather than just reaching for the stars. The Watertown Daily Times' pet projects often appeal to a small, but vocal, constituency; in this case, however, the editorial board nailed the defining issue in the last paragraph.]
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