The accusations by NY-23 Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman that ACORN stole the election for Democrat Bill Owens, by allegedly tampering with the ballots and with the reported results, is now getting some push-back -- from a local Republican election official, and even a local GOP chairman, who aren't buying into the ACORN conspiracy talk.

The Watertown Daily Times reports:

Jerry O. Eaton, Jefferson County Republican elections commissioner, called Mr. Hoffman's assertion "absolutely false."

"No one has touched those ballots or has access to those ballots except Board of Elections staff -- and in a bipartisan manner," he said.

A county Republican chairman also chimed in:

George J. Williams, Oswego County Republican chairman, said Mr. Hoffman's assertion "is not accurate." He said he roamed the county on Election Day and saw no evidence of tampering.

"We're not going to take the blame because he didn't hold his concession speech," Mr. Williams said. "If there's any doubt, I would never concede. I know things could happen. Did illegal things happen? No, I do not believe that."

Hoffman's spokesman Rob Ryan told the paper: "When and if we challenge the election, we will lay out the evidence on these matters."