inputs: hypothesis: Barack Obama is 39 years old. premise: ALBANY, N.Y. — New York's rural 20th Congressional District becomes the center of the American political world this week in a special election that's piqued the interest of both major parties. Tuesday's election will pit Republican Jim Tedisco, a 58-year-old state legislator for 27 years, against Democrat Scott Murphy, a 39-year-old businessman who has the backing of President Barack Obama and influential unions. Voters will choose the successor to Kirsten Gillibrand, who is now a U.S. senator. The special election has come to symbolize issues far beyond the sprawling district along New York's Hudson River Valley.