After a razor-thin loss in 2010, Republican congressional candidate Matt Doheny is reintroducing himself to voters today in the Watertown market with a TV advertisement that explains who he is and why he's running for Congress.

"I came back home to be closer to my mom. Now, my wife Mary and I are starting our family right here," Mr. Doheny says.

Mr. Doheny faces Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, on Nov. 6. Mr. Doheny has a large voter-registration edge, but he also has to convince voters that the Wall Street playboy caricature that his political opponents have tried to establish is incorrect. Advertisements that highlight his relationship with his charming mom, Kay, and his lovely wife, Mary, will help. The spot is nothing short of north country picturesque. (The adorable dog belongs to a family friend, spokesman Jude Seymour tells me.)

Mr. Doheny also talks about his business background and how it could help create jobs in the north country.

Mr. Doheny told me recently, in not so many words, that people should support him because of his business background. He spent the better part of a decade at Wall Street financial institutions making a lot of money — while also helping turn around troubled companies.

Turning around troubled companies sometimes involves laying off workers — but when the company survives, it's important to note, many jobs can be saved.

This is the ultimate conflict in Mr. Doheny's dance against the Democrats. He should be elected because of his business background, he says. He shouldn't be elected because of his business background, Democrats say.

To wit: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Josh Schwerin says in an (unprompted) email today: “If Matt Doheny is running on his business record, he's going to have to defend his history of laying off workers and giving bonuses to CEOs. If you think Washington needs more advocates for Wall Street, then you've found your candidate.”

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