Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former supreme commander of NATO and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, last week endorsed Iraq War veteran Jon Powers (D), who is seeking to unseat Rep. Tom Reynolds (R) in the Buffalo-area 26th district.

“This Congress has the fewest number of veterans of any Congress in recent history,” Clark said in a statement. “If there were more veterans of principled leadership and good conscience like Jon in Washington, I have no doubt this nation will have turned a corner to a brighter future.”

Clark has pledged to take an active role in Powers’ campaign, the candidate said. Clark already is helping a former top aide, Eric Massa (D), who is taking a second crack at Rep. Randy Kuhl (R) in the adjoining 29th district.

— Josh Kurtz