Dan Maffei is the democratic contender in the race for congress in the 25th District. As he accepted an endorsement from the United Autoworkers Union and voiced support for strikers at Jacquith Industries, it was clear he is hoping the glow from Denver has an effect.

“Think it has a huge effect. Particularly because I'm fighting for very similar things as Barack Obama is. He talked about a lot of the things, last night that I just mentioned now,” Maffei said.

Dale Sweetland is hoping he will succeed fellow republican James Walsh in the congressional seat. He doesn't think the race for the White House will have an effect.

Will the presidential election have an effect on local contests?

The national political tickets appear to have taken shape, but the race for President and Vice President aren't the only contests on the ballot this fall. News 10 Now's Bill Carey says there is again a question of coattails.

Sweetland doesn't seem to be counting on any help from the national ticket or the national republican committee.

The 25th District if one of those open seats that should be the target for intense spending by both parties. But this time around, the democrats are spending lots of money. The republicans? Not so much.

“We've put together a strategy and a plan that doesn't count on them to come. If they would like to come and help, I'd be glad to have them come and help. But we're not planning on it,” Sweetland said.

So no matter what the broad republican campaign themes may be, expect Sweetland to sound a theme of independence. And Maffei? Expect him to reach for any coattails he can find.

“Obama is going to be very different than Bush, just as I'll be very, very different from Bush and I'll be able to make sure that Central New York doesn't get left behind in the great change that's coming to Washington,” Maffei said.