Democrats are none too pleased that Republican Matt Doheny is using public spaces to tout his congressional campaign — even though what he's doing is totally legal.

The Democratic mayor of Glens Falls — a supporter of Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh — has ordered that a Doheny hockey fundraiser at a civic center there explicitly state that the city isn't endorsing his candidacy.

And earlier this morning, Ron Cole, the Democratic Party chairman in Jefferson County, called to say he found a similar event Friday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds inappropriate.

Mr. Doheny's campaign paid to dub the events — the season openers for the Adirondack Phantoms and the Thousand Islands Privateers — "Doheny night."

But campaigns often use public spaces to push their candidacies. It's not often this explicit. I don't suppose anyone has a problem with Jefferson Community College, a public school, hosting a debate tonight that will be broadcast on YNN.

Watertown Mayor Jeff Graham, a Doheny supporter, didn't mind the Duffy fairgrounds event, and will order no such caveat.

"Obviously, political demonstrations at city events could be overdone and doing so would probably cause more resentment than benefit," Hizzoner wrote this morning. "However, a candidate supporting a team hardly requires a disclaimer. Attending an off site rally and then going to a game to be seen at a community event does not cross a line. "

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