The state Independence Party has endorsed Republican Matt Doheny’s challenge to Democratic Rep. Bill Owens in NY-23 – a move that could prove significant in the GOP’s effort to win back the North Country seat it had held for over a century until last year’s special election loss.

“Matt Doheny’s is a fresh voice, and his commitment to less government intrusion, reduced taxes, and more job opportunities is right in line with our party’s priorities,” Indy Chairman Frank MacKay said in a press release.

Doheny said in the same release that he appreciates “the party’s confidence in my campaign and their understanding that I will be a common sense, independent voice when I win in November and go to Washington.”

He made no mention of the twin legal probes that have been bedeviling the Indy Party in Oneida County (it should be noted that this is strictly a local issue) and Manhattan.

Doheny is fighting Doug Hoffman for the GOP line against Owens. The Conservative Party, which backed Hoffman against Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava in the special election, is so far sticking with him this time around, too.

That’s in spite of the fact that local Republican leaders have complained Hoffman isn’t working hard enough and are behind Doheny.

The Indys backed Assemblywoman Scozzafava last year, and were stuck with her after she was pushed out of the race by the more conservative Hoffman just days before the election.

At the time, MacKay said it had been a mistake for his party to back Scozzafava over Owens and called the campaign “disastrous.”

The Indys are definitely splitting their support when it comes to the House races.

The party recently endorsed Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy in NY-20 again after backing him in the 2009 special election and providing more votes than his narrow margin of victory over Assemblyman Jim Tedisco in that race.

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