NY-23

Flashback: GOP Used To Badmouth Hoffman, Said He Had No Integrity

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 5:42PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Now that the national Republican Party has gotten behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- following the withdrawal of moderate GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava -- it's fun to remember that the Republicans didn't always feel so fondly about Hoffman.

As The Hill reported a month ago, NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay said that Scozzafava was the right candidate, who was picked by the local party leaders and had an appeal to the district's voters.

As for Lindsay's view of Hoffman, who had also interviewed with party leaders for the nomination: "Fortunately, the local Republican county chairs had the foresight to see that Doug Hoffman lacked the integrity and qualities needed to be elected to anything -- let alone Congress."

NY-23

DCCC: NY-23 Race Means Moderates Aren't Welcome In GOP

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 4:57PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The Democrats are quick to spin today's big news in NY-23 -- that moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava has dropped out, and the party has now endorsed insurgent Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman -- as a sign of the GOP becoming more and more extreme.

DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer gives us this statement: "The Republican Party's extreme right wing ideologues sent a chilling message to the few remaining moderate Republican Members and candidates: moderates are not welcome in the Republican Party and differing opinions will not be tolerated."

Rudominer also says the GOP has bungled this race: "The NRCC mishandled the race from day 1. The NRCC spent nearly $1 million (which is a quarter of their current cash on hand) on a race where they didn't understand the district or how the NY State party line ballot worked, they actively criticized the Conservative Party candidate, and they couldn't lock in the endorsements of Republican Party leaders."

NY-23

RNC Backs Hoffman In NY-23 Shakeup

Christina Bellantoni | October 31, 2009, 1:35PM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The Republican National Committee announced it will immediately back Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman following GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava's campaign suspension in the special election in New York's 23rd Congressional district.

Here is Chairman Mike Steele's statement.

Read more »

NY-23

Owens, Hoffman Seek Scozzafava's Moderate GOP Voters In New Statements

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 12:31PM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The two remaining candidates in the NY-23 special election, Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman, have now each reacted to moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava dropping out of the race.

Owens gave a conciliatory note, praising Scozzafava's public service and denouncing Hoffman as a right-wing extremist, a clear play for Scozzafava's voters:

"Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava has been an honorable public servant for years now and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her and her commitment to her principles. While we disagree on certain issues, we share a dedication to serving the best interests of Upstate New York and the Obama administration's efforts to get our economy back on track. Those interests will always be my highest priority."

"I remain focused on my campaign. Over the next 4 days I will continue traveling the district to discuss my record of helping create jobs and my plans to continue that work in Congress."

"Voters have a clear choice on Tuesday: they can elect to go back to the George Bush economic agenda, or they can vote to move forward. Doug Hoffman and the Club for Growth's extremist agenda won't do a thing to get our economy moving again. While Doug Hoffman is solely committed to continuing tax cuts for the wealthy which will add $500 billion to the deficit, protecting tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas, and privatizing Social Security, I will fight to turn the page on that agenda. I will work to create jobs Upstate to get our economy back on track because that is the type of leadership we need right now in Congress."

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NY-23

NRCC Officially Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 11:42AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A GOP source tells TPM that the National Republican Congressional Committee is going to get behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, now that moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava has dropped out.

Hoffman is in a close race with Democrat Bill Owens, and Scozzafava suspended her campaign today after polls showed her in third place. With the NRCC's backing, Hoffman will go from insurgent third-party candidate to being the de facto new Republican nominee (though Scozzafava will still be on the ballot as the GOP's candidate).

NRCC chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) will have a statement out shortly.

Late Update: The NRCC has released a joint statement -- co-signed by Sessions, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- backing Hoffman. It is available after the jump.

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NY-23

NY-23 GOPer Scozzafava Suspends Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 11:13AM

Former NY-23 House candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

In a huge development in the NY-23 special election, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has announced that she is suspending her campaign, citing an inability to win in light of recent polls and a lack of money -- leaving this race as a vote between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, and a strong message that the Republican Party can no longer nominate moderate candidates, or else face a right-wing revolt.

Scozzafava told the Watertown Daily Times that the new Siena poll, which said she was in third place, meant that she would be unable to catch up with Owens and Hoffman.

Interestingly, Scozzafava did not expressly endorse Hoffman in her statement, but simply released her supporters to "transfer their support as they see fit to do so," and hoped for a stronger Republican Party:

It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my Party will emerge stronger and our District and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.

The big question now, then, is how Scozzafava's voters will break down between Owens and Hoffman, and how many might still pick her as a protest vote (she will still be on the ballot). Her platform was socially liberal and economically conservative, and there was a lot of bad blood between the local GOP and Conservative campaigns. So let's see what happens next.

Scozzafava's full statement is available after the jump.

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NY-23

Poll: Dem And Conservative In Tight Race For NY-23, GOPer In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 10:00AM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (C)

The new Siena poll further confirms that the NY-23 special election has become a tight race between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, with moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place for this GOP-held seat.

The numbers: Owens 36%, Hoffman 35%, and Scozzafava 20%, with a ±3.7% margin of error. In the previous Siena poll from two weeks ago, Owens had led with 33%, Scozzafava was in second with 29%, and Hoffman trailed with 23%.

In addition, the new poll finds that only 29% of likely voters view Scozzafava favorably, with 51% viewing her unfavorably. By contrast, Owens is in positive territory at 40%-36%, and Hoffman at 41%-37%.

"Unfortunately for Assemblywoman Scozzafava, this has become a two person race between Owens and Hoffman," said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg, in the polling memo. "She now has the support of only one in five voters, having gone from 35 percent support to 20 percent support since the beginning of the month."

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NY-23

Biden To Campaign For Bill Owens; Hoffman Gets John Rich

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 4:22PM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D) and VP Joe Biden

Vice President Biden will be headed to upstate New York this Monday, to campaign for Democratic candidate Bill Owens in the NY-23 special election.

Biden's visit is coming the day before the election, in a final push to get out the Democratic vote against Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman and Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Hoffman will be bringing in his own big name: Country singer John Rich, who will be headlining a GOTV rally on Monday.

NY-23

Pataki, More Republicans Back Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 9:53AM

NY-23 Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Fmr. Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)

More Republican endorsements are piling up for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in NY-23, instead of the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, with the most prominent being former three-term Gov. George Pataki.

In his endorsement, Pataki declares that electing Scozzafava would give "another vote to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. This run to the right is especially interesting, considering that Pataki himself used to have a reputation as a moderate, socially liberal Republican.

Hoffman has also been endorsed by an additional 11 House Republicans: Todd Akin (MO), Paul Broun (GA), Mary Fallin (OK), Jeff Flake (AZ), John Fleming (LA), Trent Franks (AZ), Steve King (IA), Tom McClintock (CA), Jerry Moran (KS) John Shadegg (AZ) and Mark Souder (IN). From that list, Moran is currently running for Senate, and his opponent in the primary, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, endorsed Hoffman a week ago.

Bill Owens

Three Candidates Debate In NY-23: A Moderate Democrat Versus Two Republicans

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 9:13PM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (C)

The three candidates for this Tuesday's NY-23 special election -- Democrat Bill Owens, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- debated today with the local ABC affiliate in Syracuse, the only meeting of all three candidates in a special election that has caught the eyes of the national media.

One very important element of this debate was that the issues where Scozzafava takes her more liberal positions -- she is pro-choice, supports gay marriage, and supports the Employee Free Choice Act -- simply didn't come up at all. As a result, the focus on prominent economic issues like taxes, health care and job creation really did turn this into a debate between one Democrat and two Republicans, and as a result this meant Scozzafava was effectively tacking to the right.

One running theme of the debate, though, was the sheer enmity between the two Republicans, the regular GOP nominee Scozzafava, and the insurgent Conservative Hoffman. Scozzafava clearly viewed Hoffman as an agent of outside interests, the national right-wing groups that have backed him as opposed to her local support and concern for local issues, while Hoffman presented himself as the only real Republican -- and as noted above, the issues on which he's really differentiated from her didn't even come up.

Read more »

NY-23

Rick Perry Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 6:01PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R), NY-23 Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has picked up another endorsement from a prominent Republican, Texas Gov. Rick Perry:

"There is a reason that our party lost power in Washington DC. A lot of folks went to Congress wearing the Republican jersey, but far too many played the game like Democrats. People around Texas -- and frankly, all around the country -- are fed up with the federal government."

Endorsing Hoffman, stead of the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, has now become something of a litmus test for true-believing conservatism. It should be noted, of course, that Perry is facing a challenge in the Republican primary in 2010, from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. And Perry has also been endorsed by Sarah Palin -- who has also endorsed Hoffman.

NY-23

Could NY-23 GOP Candidate Be Siphoning Votes From The Democrat?

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 4:54PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

With polls showing moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place in the NY-23 special election, behind Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, she may have to deal with a label that is not often applied to major-party candidates -- that of the spoiler. But who, exactly, is she spoiling?

Prof. Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia posited an interesting hypothesis to me: That Scozzafava's remaining vote is not a conservative Republican base vote that would go to Hoffman, since voters on the right have already been coalescing around him, but she could actually be drawing more from the moderate Democrat Owens.

"Most people think of that as just a rock solid Republican vote, but who are those people?" Sabato said. "They're people who now know, for the most part, that Scozzafava is a liberal Republican. They get it. And a lot of them are really unhappy with Hoffman, so are they really gonna back Hoffman?"

As this idea goes -- and keep in mind that it's not a solid pronouncement, but simply an interpretation of the data as it stands now -- if the Republican continues to fall, it could end up helping the Democrat in a district that voted 52% for Barack Obama in 2008, and where a majority might find a Democrat preferable to the right-wing Conservative.

NY-23

Dem Owens And GOPer Scozzafava Debate In NY-23, Conservative Hoffman Skips It

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 12:52PM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The candidates met last night for a debate in the NY-23 special election -- two of the candidates anyway. Only Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Dede Scozzafava were there for the public radio debate, with Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman skipping the event.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan told the Plattsburgh Press Republican that the radio station's involvement was the reason for the refusal: "North Country Public Radio is the perfect venue to decide who is the most liberal candidate in the race."

At the beginning of the debate (audio here), the moderator said that multiple invitations were extended to Hoffman, and that as far as they knew he would have been available.

All three candidates, however, are meeting today for one debate, hosted by the local ABC affiliate. The debate is being taped at 2:30 p.m., and will be broadcast and streamed online at 7 p.m.

NY-23

Poll: NY-23 Dem and Conservative In Tight Race, Republican In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 11:43AM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the NY-23 race finds this to be a dead heat between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third.

The numbers: Owens 33%, Hoffman 32%, Scozzafava 21%, with a ±4% margin of error. Last week, Owens had 35%, Scozzafava 30%, and Hoffman 23%.

Two other polls commissioned by groups backing Hoffman -- the Club For Growth and the Minuteman PAC -- have shown Hoffman with a lead over Owens, and Scozzafava in third.

Special elections are notoriously difficult to poll, due to low and unpredictable turnout patterns, and the nature of a three-way race makes it all the more complicated. At this point, though, we have enough evidence to say with a reasonable level of confidence that the race is probably between Owens and Hoffman.

NY-23

Democrat Owens And GOPer Scozzafava Split Newspaper Endorsements -- Conservative Hoffman Gets Thumbs-Down

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 10:17AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens are splitting the big newspaper endorsements in the NY-23 special election, which has become a three-way race due to the presence of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- who in turn is getting bad reviews in the press.

The Watertown Daily Times, the biggest paper int he district, is endorsing Scozzafava and scolding Hoffman:

Her answers to questions posed by this newspaper about district issues reveal both a breadth and depth that are unmatched by her opponents' responses. During this campaign she has been the candidate most focused on the district, the most willing to debate and the least likely to be diverted by outside interests.

Mr. Hoffman, an accountant and businessman who lives outside the district in Lake Placid, has harnessed a national firestorm of conservative dismay with government. But his ideological stands could harm the district. An example: He has sworn on principle not to request congressional earmarks even though they were essential to raise federal funds for the expansion and improvement of Fort Drum. Would he hew to this stand at the expense of the district which has benefited mightily from Drum's development?

Read more »

NY-23

Conservative Party's Hoffman Previously Sought Earmark, Now Opposes Them

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 1:38PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has sworn off earmarks as part of his campaign to cut the size of government in Washington -- but it turns out that he's not so pure on this subject, the Watertown Daily Times reports.

Hoffman sat on the finance committee of a local hospital, the Adirondack Medical Center, which two years ago asked Republican Rep. John McHugh (whose appointment as Secretary of the Army triggered this special election) for federal funding to construct a primary health clinic.

The hospital ultimately received $479,000. This was actually less than the undisclosed amount that the hospital had originally asked for, which is a typical practice in a process that involves requesting a large amount and securing a smaller one.

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NY-23

GOP Reps. Cole And Rohrabacher Back Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 3:56PM

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Tom Cole (R-CA)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has picked up two more endorsements from sitting House Republicans, Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Dana Rohrabacher of California, who are joining in the right-wing revolt against the nomination of moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Cole's endorsement is big news, because he is in fact a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee -- the party organization dedicated to electing Republicans to the House. He was NRCC chair during the disastrous 2008 cycle, and is now going against the party's candidate in a seat that the GOP could potentially lose as a result of the Republican split.

"Doug Hoffman is right on the critical issues facing America -- and he is the only Republican who can win this special election," said Cole, whose endorsement was initially reported by Bill Kristol. "For those reasons I have chosen to endorse Mr. Hoffman and my leadership PAC has contributed to his campaign. I look forward to working with Doug in Congress and welcoming him into the Republican Conference."

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NY-23

DeMint Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 3:18PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), a leading right-wing voice in Congress, has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, instead of moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

By our count, this makes DeMint the fourth sitting member of Congress to endorse Hoffman, and the first Senator to do so, following Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), and Rep John Linder (R-GA).

DeMint said: "Too often, we're told that Republicans have to be like Democrats to be competitive in states like New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. But the truth is voters don't want to be forced to pick between two liberals; they want a real choice. If voters want to give Washington more control over our lives, they can always vote for Democrats."

NY-23

Conservative Pollster Puts Hoffman Ahead In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 8:49AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A new poll of the NY-23 special election, conducted by the conservative Neighborhood Research and commissioned by the Minuteman PAC -- which is supporting Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- finds Hoffman in first place, and the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third.

The numbers: Hoffman 34.1%, Democrat Bill Owens 29.2%, and Scozzafava 13.9%, with a ±4.8% margin of error. Among definite voters, it's Hoffman 37.5%, Owens 28.4%, and Scozzafava 13.5%, with a ±5.6% margin of error.

Neighborhood Research head Rick Shaftan told TPM: "She's [Scozzafava] going to end up in single digits and Hoffman is going to top 50%."

This runs contrary to independent polls, which have put Owens in first, Scozzafava second, and Hoffman third, while it's consistent with a poll from the Club For Growth (which also supports Hoffman). Then again, special elections are notoriously difficult to poll, due to low turnout, so there's really no telling what's going to happen on election day next week.

NY-23

Doug Hoffman: If I Win, GOP Will Look At The Principles Of Future Nominees

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 6:37PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, appeared on Glenn Beck's TV show today, and said a victory in the special election will send a strong message to the GOP about future candidate selections.

"I'm fighting for the heart and soul of the Republican Party," said Hoffman. "And I think if I win this campaign, that people will take notice, and the next time they select a candidate, they will look at the principles."

Hoffman is running against Democrat Bill Owens and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, whose selection as the GOP's candidate has triggered a revolt by right-wing activists and politicians across the country. Scozzafava is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and even pro-Employee Free Choice Act. So if Hoffman wins, or even just spoils the race in favor of the Democrats, the GOP will know that moderate candidates need not apply for other races -- thus foiling efforts by some in the party to expand their ranks and ideological reach.

NY-23

GOP Campaign Calls Upon Conservative Hoffman To Drop Out, In Wake Of Poll With Him Up

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 5:17PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

In a press release sent out by the Dede Scozzafava campaign, the moderate Republican running in the three-way special election, several GOP state legislators call upon Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to drop out of the race -- and declare that a new poll from the pro-Hoffman Club For Growth showing him ahead is false:

"Doug Hoffman must do the right thing and drop out of this race right now," said Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. "This is a campaign for Congress -- not an audition to be a talking head on a cable news program. Doug Hoffman doesn't live here, he doesn't understand our local issues and, regardless of his campaign's theatrics and false polls, he knows he is completely unelectable. Make no mistake about it -- Doug Hoffman is a spoiler, and by staying in this race he will jeopardize a seat the Republican Party has held here since the Civil War. It's high time that Hoffman puts the good of this community over his personal ambition and endorses our Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava," she concluded.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan gives us this comment: "This just proves many Republicans don't know how to read polls or sense the groundswell of support that's taking place in the district. Dede Scozzafava is the spoiler in this race, because she's so liberal. Doug Hoffman will be the next Congressman, because Republicans from throughout the district will vote for him on election day."

NY-23

GOP Rep. John Linder Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 5:02PM

Rep. John Linder (R-GA)

A source in the campaign of Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, tells us that another member of Congress will be endorsing Hoffman: This time, it's Rep. John Linder (R-GA).

Linder will be the third sitting member of Congress to openly back the Conservative Hoffman over the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, following Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS).

Late Update: Linder's office has confirmed the endorsement. Here's Linder's statement:

"The biggest concern I have with the Republican candidate in this race is that her long held positions on unions, taxes and spending incline me to believe that she will give Nancy Pelosi a Republican vote so that these many outrageous grabs for power and control will be called 'bipartisan.' I am confident that Doug will not do that."

NY-23

Pawlenty Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 3:14PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- passing over his party's actual nominee, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Pawlenty said in a statement given to Red State:

"We cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress on issues like card check and taxes. After reviewing the candidates' positions, I'm endorsing Doug Hoffman in New York's special election. Doug understands the federal government needs to quit spending so much, will vote against tax increases, and protect key values like the right to vote in private in union elections."

Pawlenty is the second possible GOP presidential candidate to pick the Conservative over the Republican, following Sarah Palin's endorsement of Hoffman late last week. Newt Gingrich has been vocally supporting Scozzafava, and catching a lot of flak on the right as a result.

NY-23

Club For Growth Poll: Conservative Hoffman Ahead In NY-23, Moderate GOPer Scozzafava In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 12:34PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A new poll from the right-wing Club For Growth, which is supporting Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, says that Hoffman is ahead in the three-way race -- and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place.

The numbers: Hoffman 31%, Democrat Bill Owens 27%, and Scozzafava 20%. The margin of error is ±5.66%.

This is contrary to other polls that have shown Owens in front, Scozzafava second, and Hoffman third. The Club points out that no information about the candidates was given before the ballot question, meaning that they did not try to prime the pump for Hoffman in the lead-up to asking people for their preferences.

From the pollster's analysis: "Hoffman now has a wide lead among both Republicans and Independents, while Owens has a wide lead among Democrats. Dede Scozzafava's support continues to collapse, making this essentially a two-candidate race between Hoffman and Owens in the final week."

Bill Owens

Conservative Party's Hoffman Unable To Answer Questions On Local Issues In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:55AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

It looks like Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, doesn't actually know much about the district's local issues, the Watertown Daily Times reports.

Hoffman is opposing Democratic nominee Bill Owens and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava on issues like abortion, gay rights, the stimulus bill, and other national hot-button topics. But at a Daily Times editorial board meeting, he couldn't answer questions about local transportation projects and other economic issues.

Read more »

NY-23

Kansas GOP Rep. Tiahrt Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:58PM

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), who is currently running for the Republican nomination in a contested 2010 U.S. Senate primary, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- the second sitting member of Congress to openly do so, after Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).

Tiahrt's press release blasts the moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava, questions her party loyalty, and casts the race as a test for the soul of the GOP:

"Doug Hoffman will be a consistent vote for conservative principles in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have no doubt he will vote for anyone other than Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, which is the most important vote of each Congress. I do not have that same confidence in his opponent, who has a very similar record to Ms. Pelosi."

Tiahrt claims the New York 23 election reflects the same battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party going on nationally.

"The Republican Party is either going to return to the party of fiscal responsibility and consistent conservative principles as it was under Ronald Reagan or it will continue down the path of 'sporadic moderation,'" Tiahrt exclaimed.

As noted before, Tiahrt is running in a Republican primary for Senate, facing off against fellow Kansas GOP Congressman Jerry Moran. Take this as a sign that support of Hoffman over Scozzafava could become its own litmus test for Republicans in the future -- as a mark of true conservatism, requiring that candidates will have not supported the GOP's actual nominee in this race.

Check out the full Tiahrt press release after the jump.

Read more »

NY-23

McCain's Office Not Saying Who He Supports In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 3:32PM

Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Here's an important question on the NY-23 race: Now that the Republican Party's 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has broken with the party to support a third party Conservative over the moderate GOP candidate, who does her former running mate and ex-presidential nominee John McCain support?

I have placed multiple messages with McCain's office, asking which candidate he supports in the special election, and whether he agrees with Palin's denunciation of the GOP for putting up a moderate nominee. They have not gotten back to me.

NY-23

Whose Side Are They On? The Big GOP Schism In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 2:00PM

The NY-23 special election has led to a very interesting development: A whole lot of prominent Republicans are openly calling for the defeat of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, opting instead to back the Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman, while just a few are sticking by the actual GOP candidate.

This race has put two former House GOP leaders on different sides, the NRA against the Club For Growth, and the House GOP leadership against its own back-benches.

The message being sent here is loud and clear: Republicans are not allowed to nominate moderate candidates. If they do, it won't just be the grassroots activists and conservative bloggers who will complain -- the big names will do it, too, and will set out to defeat that candidate, even if means the Democrats wins. As a prominent pro-life activist told me about the prospect of a Democratic victory, "It's a shame that the Republican Party didn't do a better job of selecting a candidate."

Let's look at the list of Republicans who are supporting Hoffman, and the ones supporting Scozzafava. Let's start with Scozzafava's backers -- it's a much shorter list.

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NY-23

Pawlenty: 'I'm Concerned' About Moderate GOP Candidate's Positions In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 1:36PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate, is starting to sound an awful lot like he could end up endorsing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- saying that he'ss "concerned" about moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's positions.

Yesterday, Pawlenty had simply said that he didn't know anything about the race. Now it's quite different, as ABC News reports:

Pawlenty, who's widely mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, said he will "probably" make an endorsement in the race -- and sounded as if he's poised to support Hoffman over Scozzafava.

"As a conservative I'm concerned about some of the alleged issue positions that she holds," said Pawlenty, R-Minn. "I want to be fair to both candidates and look at their records. But there are some things that [I] have been told that you know, she holds dear, that may not be consistent with conservative principles."

NY-23

Steve Forbes Endorsing Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:32AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A source close to Doug Hoffman has just told me that Steve Forbes will be endorsing the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election -- yet another right-wing voice who is rebelling against the Republican Party for nominating moderate candidate Dede Scozzafava.

The biggest news, of course, is that Sarah Palin has endorsed Hoffman, denouncing the GOP for putting up their candidate. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is also backing Hoffman, the only sitting member of Congress to openly do so -- though of Congressional Republican have not endorsed Scozzafava.

This sure is a mess, and it's looking more and more likely that Democratic candidate Bill Owens will win from the GOP split with the Tea Party purists, giving House Democrats a pick-up of a Republican-held seat.

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Poll: Dem Leads In NY-23, Conservative Party's Hoffman Still In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 8:32AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the NY-23 special election finds Democratic candidate Bill Owens narrowly leading Republican Dede Scozzafava -- and Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who has excited a revolt against the GOP establishment from the whole national right wing, in third.

The numbers: Owens 35%, Scozzafava 30%, and Hoffman 23%, with a ±4% margin of error. This is consistent with last week's Siena poll, which had Owens ahead by 33%-29%-23%.

Hoffman supporters were asked for their second choices, with only 9% saying they would back Scozzafava, 3% for Owens, 26% who wouldn't vote, and 62% who are undecided. Even with the higher margins of error that afflict these sorts of sub-samples, that's pretty telling.

Interestingly, a key poll question finds that Scozzafava doesn't even qualify for the argument that the GOP should nominate moderate candidates to match moderate districts. Scozzafava is in favor of gay marriage -- making her even more progressive than the Democrat on this issue -- but the district's likely voters oppose gay marriage by 53%-39%.

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Palin Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 11:49PM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, in a statement provided to the Weekly Standard, and is blasting the GOP for picking moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava:

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate that more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket.

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.

Just think about the seriousness of the split in Republican ranks over this race -- the nominee for Vice President in last year's election is now rejecting the party's candidate in a Congressional race, where the divisions among the right are threatening to hand a GOP-held seat to the Democrats.

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Hoffman Radio Ad In NY-23 Makes Fun of Scozzafava Camp For Calling Police Against Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 2:26PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, has a new radio ad making fun of moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, who offended the campaign by following the candidate and asking her questions about her policy positions.

The ad is a comedic dramatization of a Scozzafava staffer calling 911. Here's a short excerpt:

[Audio recording static and telephone ringing sfx, male voice] 911, please state your emergency.

[Female voice, agitated] Yes, I work for Dede Scozzafava. A reporter just asked about her voting to increase taxes!

[911] I see the problem. Which of Scozzafava's 190 votes to raise taxes did the reporter ask about?

[CALLER] I don't know, I mean, she's been in Albany 10 years...

Listen to the whole thing. It's really funny.

Click To Play

Dede Scozzafava

Gingrich Explains Scozzafava Endorsement, Slams Right-Wing Critics

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:57PM

Fmr. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and NY-23 candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Newt Gingrich has put up a new blog post, responding to right-wing criticism for his endorsement of moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election, instead of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Gingrich explains the importance of having a big tent in a party, and of reaching out to moderates who help to build an actual majority. And towards the end, he crosses over into directly questioning the maturity of his detractors:

Through my experience as Speaker of the House and building a Republican majority in 1994, I have learned that if America wants a conservative majority in Washington, parts of that majority are going to disagree. I was elected Speaker because a number of moderates voted for me. They gave us control of the House for the first time in forty years, allowing us to balance the federal budget, cut taxes and reform welfare for America.

...

My number one interest is to build a Republican majority. If your interest is taking power back from the Left, and your interest is winning the necessary elections, then there are times when you have to put together a coalition that has disagreement within it.

We have to decide which business we are in. If we are in the business about feeling good about ourselves while our country gets crushed then I probably made the wrong decision.

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Obama Sends E-mail Endorsing Dem Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:29PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D) and Pres. Obama

President Obama has sent out a new e-mail to his Organizing For America campaign e-mail list for New York's 23rd Congressional District, telling recipients that he endorses Democratic candidate Bill Owens in the upcoming special election and urges them to help out:

As I work to change the tone of our nation's politics and end the petty partisanship that has dominated Washington for too long, I'll need the help of leaders like Bill.

That's why I'm proud to announce my support for Bill Owens, candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

But my support will only take Bill so far. As we learned last year, true change doesn't come from folks in Washington, but from the dedication and energy of people like you.

A win here would be a pick-up for the Democrats, taking the seat formerly held by GOP Congressman John McHugh, who was appointed by Obama to be Secretary of the Army. The Republicans have been seriously damaged by a split between supporters of moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava versus Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

The full e-mail is available after the jump.

Read more »

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Dick Armey: Conservative Party's Hoffman Is 'The Real Republican' In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 12:15PM

NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Dick Armey

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) formally endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, further deepening the split on the right in this campaign for a GOP-held swing seat.

Hoffman is running against Democrat Bill Owens and the regular Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, who has been assailed on the right for her liberal positions on issues like abortion, gay marriage and the Employee Free Choice Act. A recent Siena poll; showed Owens narrowly ahead of Scozzafava in a three-way race, and benefitting enormously from the split in Republican ranks.

Said Armey: "Though Doug may not be running on the Republican line, Doug is the real Republican in this race and that's why I'm endorsing him today." Those are some strong words for a former House GOP leader, to be disowning his party's official candidate.

Check out the full Hoffman campaign press release, after the jump.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Supports Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:24AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared yesterday on Laura Ingraham's radio show -- and called upon listeners to support Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, instead of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

Bachmann quite correctly said the race is a "mess," and said that she's read that the Republican candidate is now in third place, with the Democrat in first place and Hoffman as the real chance to keep the seat in the GOP column. Interestingly, there has not been any publicly-released poll at this time showing Hoffman in second place. The latest Siena poll had Democrat Bill Owens in first place with 33%, Scozzafava with 29%, and Hoffman with 23%.

Ingraham repeatedly pressed Bachmann on who she supported. Her bottom line: "Hoffman is on the ascendancy, and we have to win this seat. And people need to get behind the winning candidate, and it looks like that's Hoffman."

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NY-23 GOP Candidate Calls For More Debates -- Conservative Party Camp Tells Her To Drop Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 12:10PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election, is now challenging her opponents to hold more debates -- and focusing on the one who has been the biggest thorn in her side, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Scozzafava held a press conference this morning, right outside of one of Hoffman's campaign offices. "I've agreed to debate," Scozzafava said. "I've agreed to every forum that's been offered and I think it's time that the opposition and both of my opponents agree as well."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan responded in a statement saying that they have tried to debate -- and also lambasting Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, and calling on her to drop out of the race for the good of the GOP.

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AP: Weekly Standard Reporter Didn't Yell At GOP Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 11:23AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

After the campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, they accused him of screaming questions in her face -- an allegation that has now been disproven.

McCormack gave his audio recording to the Associated Press, and their judgement as a neutral third party is that he didn't yell:

In the audio recording of the reporter's questioning played for The Associated Press by McCormack, the reporter didn't raise his voice, but repeated his unanswered questions several times, including one about abortion.

"I never screamed, I never yelled, I never shouted," he said. "My voice was only loud enough so she could hear my questions."

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GOP Candidate's Husband Called Police Against Weekly Standard

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 4:08PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

It has now been determined who it was on the Dede Scozzafava campaign, the moderate Republican in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in NY-23 campaign, that called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack for following her and asking questions: Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall.

The Watertown Daily Times reports:

Ronald P. McDougall, shortly before 9 p.m., called county dispatchers from the Lowville Elks Lodge on Shady Avenue to request patrol for a nuisance report and hung up, according to a dispatch report of the incident. Upon a call back from dispatchers, Mr. McDougall identified himself and suggested the media was too close to his wife -- state Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur -- and that he was uncomfortable with a reporter.

"I think he was just pressing," village Police Chief Eric F. Fredenburg said of John McCormack, deputy online editor of the Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine.

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NY-23 GOP Campaign And Weekly Standard Feud: Read The E-mails

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 2:50PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

The feud is heating up between the Weekly Standard and the Dede Scozzafava campaign -- the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election -- with Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns now forwarding to TPM e-mails between himself and the Standard, in a challenge to the magazine's journalistic objectivity.

The latest battle between the two camps involved the Scozzafava campaign calling the police against Standard reporter John McCormack, for following around their candidate and repeatedly asking her questions in a manner that they said showed "a complete lack of decency." Bill Kristol then characterized Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns as the malevolent character, for having called their offices on Friday and yelled at them over a story. Now, Burns has sent us e-mails connected with that dust-up from last week.

"Last week, John wrote a story that falsely asserted Dede was something other than a life-long Republican," Burns wrote me. "He took that leap based upon the exchange below. How any objective reporter would take such a leap, I'll let you report and readers decide."

McCormack confirmed the authenticity of the e-mails to me. "I have no problem posting that e-mail exchange," McCormack said. "But it's a sign of a truly desperate campaign when they're forwarding e-mails to left-wing blogs, instead of talking about their own agenda, and unwilling to answer questions about where she stands on the issues."

Read more »

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NY-23 Dem Candidate Hit With Trademark Letter Over His Ad -- But He's Standing By It

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 1:53PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D)

Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate in the NY-23 special election, has now been told by the California Milk Processor Board to pull one of his ads for infringing on their "got milk?" trademark -- but he's sticking with it.

The Owens ad says he'll fight on behalf of local dairy farmers to stop alleged price-fixing by milk companies, and ends with him saying, "We've got to find out -- who's got milk money?" The phrase "got milk money?" is then on screen, in a similar font as the "got milk?" ads.

"He has not sought our permission to use it," said California Milk Processor Board Executive Director Stephen James. "He does not have our permission to use it and if we don't police the trademark and make sure that it's not abused by anyone who just feels like slapping it on what they want to slap it on, then we lose the rights to the trademark."

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Weekly Standard Hits Back At NY-23 GOPer Campaign's Accusations, Call To The Police

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 12:34PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R) and William Kristol

The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, is now in a public shouting match with the Weekly Standard -- which is blasting the campaign for what it calls an abuse of the press by a desperate politician.

This comes after the Scozzafava camp called the police on their reporter John McCormack, for asking a lot of pointed questions of Scozzafava and following her into the parking lot of an event.

Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns told the Politico that McCormack's behavior "shows a complete lack of decency," and seemed to be saying that McCormack was stalking his candidate: "This self-described reporter repeatedly screamed questions (in-your-face-style) while our candidate was doing what she is supposed to be doing: speaking with voters (remember, those who will decide this election?). And then he followed the candidate to her car, continuing to carry on in a manner that would make the National Enquirer blush. I have no doubt he intended to follow her home, too. His actions were reprehensible. Those are the facts."

Bill Kristol has fired back, standing up for his reporter -- and calling Burns the abusive one.

Read more »

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GOP Campaign In NY-23 Calls The Police On Weekly Standard Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 11:20AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Now this is something that doesn't happen every day. The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate who is in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, called the police on a Weekly Standard reporter for asking her too many questions.

The Standard's John McCormack reported that he asked Scozzafava repeated questions about her support for the Employee Free Choice Act, her positions on health care, taxes and abortion. After a staffer got in between him and the candidate, he followed her to the parking lot and kept trying to ask questions.

Then things got interesting:

After she got into her car, I went to my car and fired up my laptop to report the evening's events.

Minutes later a police car drove into the parking lot with its lights flashing. Officer Grolman informed me that she was called because "there was a little bit of an uncomfortable situation" and then took down my name, date of birth, and address.

"Maybe we do things a little differently here, but you know, persistence in that area, you scared the candidate a little bit," Officer Grolman told me.

Read more »

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Dick Armey To Campaign For Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 5:44PM

Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) is headed to NY-23, to campaign for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- and to send a message to the national GOP by stopping moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

"We win when we are us. We lose when we are Democrat lite," Armey told Erick Erickson. Armey also explained: "Big Government Republicans, though they call themselves Big Government Conservatives, do not win. I would tell the Republican Party leadership it cannot win if it insists on recruiting and supporting candidates out of step with the voters."

Armey's presence could provide an interesting counterweight to Newt Gingrich, who led the House Republicans with Armey in the mid-1990's, and who recently endorsed Scozzafava.

Read more »

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Hoffman Camp Calls Scozzafava 'Bernie Madoff'

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 2:21PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The attacks keep on coming in the NY-23 special election, with Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava the target of more attacks from her right.

Scozzafava is in a three-way race with not only Democrat Bill Owens, but also Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has attacked Scozzafava as a liberal on issues like abortion, gay marriage and spending. The split in conservative ranks threatens to hand the seat to the Democrats. And now Hoffman's camp and the Conservative Party are calling her something else: "The Bernie Madoff of New York politics."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan used the term in reference to Scozzafava's recent endorsement by Newt Gingrich, explaining it as follows: "She is pulling a scam on Republican voters, and it looks like she is pulling a scam on Newt Gingrich."

Read more »

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National GOP Giving More Aid To Scozzafava -- And Making Right-Wingers Madder

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 2:19PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The national Republican Party is stepping up its efforts to support moderate GOPer Dede Scozzafava in the upcoming NY-23 special election, sending in money and big endorsements -- which might just make the current split with the right wing on this race even worse.

Scozzafava is being opposed by not just Democratic candidate Bill Owens, but also by Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has the support of right-wing groups such as the Club For Growth, the Family Research Council, and conservative bloggers who are incensed at Scozzafava's liberalism on issues like gay rights and abortion.

The Republican National Committee, after having not put in resources, will now give $85,000 to the coordinated campaign, and transfer an undisclosed six-figure sum to the state GOP to help Scozzafava. In addition, the Scozzafava campaign has rolled out the endorsement of the big conservative icon of the 1990's, Newt Gingrich himself -- which is only making the right-wingers even madder.

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NY-23 Special Election Splitting The Right

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 5:58PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The upcoming special election in NY-23, a swing seat that had been held securely by Republican Congressman John McHugh until his appointment as President Obama's Secretary of the Army, is seriously threatening to divide the right -- and Democrats stand to benefit.

The new Siena poll finds Democrat Bill Owens taking a narrow 33%-29% lead over Republican state Rep. Dede Scozzafava -- with Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman not far behind, with 23%. Hoffman has been endorsed by the Club For Growth, Family Research Council Action PAC, Fred Thompson and other conservatives, who refuse to back Scozzafava over her various socially liberal stances.

In addition, The Hill reports that only 17 House Republicans have donated to Scozzafava.

TPM asked the NRCC whether they would commit to continue supporting Scozzafava, even if Hoffman were to overtake her as the chief opponent to Owens. They declined to comment on their strategy.

Read more »

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Poll: Democrat Bill Owens Takes Narrow Lead In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 9:35AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Siena poll of the NY-23 special election, which is being held on November 3 to fill a GOP-held swing seat, shows Democrat Bill Owens taking a narrow lead in a three-way race.

The numbers: Owens 33%, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava 29%, and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman with 23%. Two weeks ago, Scozzafava was ahead with 35%, Owens had 28%, and Hoffman at 16%.

The pollster's analysis finds that the positive nature of Owens' campaign has helped him, compared to negativity from the GOP campaign: "Among those who've seen Owens' commercials, a small plurality says the commercials make them more likely to support Owens. However, by a margin of 28-12 percent, those who've seen Scozzafava's commercials say those commercials make them less likely to support her."

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A Conservative House GOP Revolt On NY-23?

Eric Kleefeld | October 8, 2009, 5:28PM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The American Spectator reports that the House GOP could be seeing a minor revolt among its members over the NY-23 special election, in which the local Republican Party nominated a candidate who is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage.

State Rep. Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate, is in a three-way race with Democratic attorney Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. The third-party candidate Hoffman has received the endorsements of the Club For Growth, Gary Bauer and former Sen. Fred Thompson. And it appears that some House GOPers would rather be helping him than the socially liberal Scozzafava:

[NRCC Chair Pete] Sessions was called out by conservative members of the caucus, and challenged when asked why NRCC resources -- cash and personnel -- were being used for Scozzafava. "We have a conservative running in this race, and the Republican Party is not with him," says a conservative House member who attended the meeting. "There are a number of us who are profoundly embarrassed by this race, and while we don't blame Pete, we do blame the NRCC staff for apparently not doing its job."

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New York Conservative Party Officially Nominates Hoffman For NY-23, Blasts GOPer Scozzafava

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2009, 5:40PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The New York Conservative Party officially nominated Doug Hoffman as their candidate in the November 3 special election in NY-23 -- and made it very clear that they'll be attacking Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

In the press release, Conservative chairman Mike Long did not hold back.

"Doug Hoffman is the only conservative in this race. It's a fact; both of his opponents are died-in-the-wool liberals," said Long. "Dede Scozzafava is a career Albany politician who has voted for increased spending and higher taxes. She supports Gay Marriage and Abortion. Last November she ran as a candidate on the ACORN backed Working Families Party line and shared that line with Barak (sic) Obama and Joe Biden. She has been endorsed by the far-left DAILY KOS. Dede Scozzafava is a liberal."

The seat became open when President Obama appointed GOP Rep. John McHugh as Secretary of the Army, and is now a three-way race between the moderate Republican Scozzafava, Democratic businessman Bill Owens, and Hoffman as the third-party Conservative.

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Poll: A Three-Way Race In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2009, 9:41AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The first poll is out in the NY-23 special election, a vacancy created by the appointment of former Republican Congressman John McHugh to be President Obama's Secretary of the Army -- and it shows a wide open three-way race.

The numbers from Siena: Republican Dede Scozzafava 35%, Democrat Bill Owens 28%, and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman 16%, with a ±3.9% margin of error.

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