ALBANY, N.Y. (November 3, 2009)--Democrat Bill Owens was leading with about 49 percent of the vote late Tuesday night in a special Congressional election in northern New York that grabbed national headlines in its final days as it highlighted divisions within the Republican Party.

Owens led Tuesday over Conservative Doug Hoffman's 45 percent of the vote with about 71 percent of precincts reporting in New York's 23rd House district.

Republican Dierdre Scozzafava, who withdrew from the race Saturday, has still picked up 6 percent of the vote so far.

The race in the heavily Republican district got national attention.

Some called it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.