Metro

It’s a torture ‘Chamber’ for NY’s Dems

WASHINGTON — The mighty US Chamber of Commerce weighed in on New York’s congressional races yesterday, unleashing a television ad blitz blasting Democratic incumbents and challengers.

The spots, which swept across the state, smacked sitting members for supporting ObamaCare, claiming that they backed more government spending and increased taxes.

The ads targeted incumbent Democratic House members Kathy Hochul, Bill Owens, Tim Bishop and Louise Slaughter, while also taking shots at Democratic challengers Sean Patrick Maloney and Dan Maffei.

Maloney is in a bitter tussle with Rep. Nan Hayworth.

Maffei, who is challenging Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, is running to get his seat back after losing it to Buerkle in 2010.

The New York ads bring the number of districts the chamber is involved in to a total of 19 across the country.

The chamber last week coordinated a similar assault in California, where it spent $3.3 million.

The entry into the New York campaigns by the powerful business lobby shows the importance of the Empire State in the battle for control of the House. Democrats need to pick up 25 seats to win a majority.

The chamber is targeting so-called “orphan districts” in states that will play a major role in who holds the House.