Doug Hoffman Likely Running Again As Candidate To 'Unite' All GOP Factions (VIDEO)

Doug Hoffman is considering another bid for the 23rd Congressional district but this time will "absolutely" go the Republican establishment route, he told TPMDC.

Hoffman, who hinted he'd run a second time after losing to a Democrat last fall,
said if he gets in the race it would be to "get the seat back into Republican hands."

I caught up with Hoffman for an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference today, and he charged that Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY) violated his campaign pledges on his first week in office by voting for the health care bill.

"I'm the only candidate that can unite the Republican party, the conservative party, the tea party, the 9/12ers and the grassroots of the 23rd district," he said.

Hoffman said he'd officially announce in the next two weeks, but sounded like a candidate, telling me that at CPAC, "We have not been asking for endorsements, people are encouraging us to run."

Later Hoffman stopped by to bend Rep. Steve King's ear, and King (R-IA) offered his endorsement.

We also asked Hoffman about Ryan roadmap budget that we've been writing about. He didn't want to take a position on the plan since he hasn't read it, but said he opposes cuts to Medicare and Social Security.

"If we're going to cut the deficits and cut the national debt we have to look at the federal budget and we're going to have to make some hard decisions. At this point I'm not in favor of cutting Medicare or Social Security, I think those benefits are not necessarily ones that we should start with," he said.