First Campaign Faceoff for Stimulus Package

The polarizing stimulus package will get its first electoral test in late March when New York state Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R) and businessman Scott Murphy (D) face off in a special election.

Tedisco and Murphy have weighed in along party lines on the package, which has passed in the House with no Republican support.

Murphy announced his support for the package on Friday, praising its middle-class tax cuts and job-creation potential.

“While the economic recovery package in Washington is far from perfect, I support President Obama’s call for bold action, and would vote in favor of the economic recovery package, because it’s essential that we provide middle class tax relief, and create jobs in upstate New York immediately,” Murphy said.

Tedisco on Thursday called the package