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November 01, 2009
Scozzafava Halts Camapign ~ GOOD Let real Conservatives rebuild the GOP!!
Scozzafava suspends NY 23 campaign
Republican Dede Scozzafava has suspended her bid in next Tuesday’s NY 23 special election, a huge development that dramatically shakes up the race. She did not endorse either of her two opponents -- Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman or Democrat Bill Owens.
The decision to suspend her campaign is a boost for Hoffman, who already had the support of 50 percent of GOP voters, according to a newly-released Siena poll, and is now well-positioned to win over the 25 percent of Republicans who had been sticking with Scozzafava.
Scozzafava has “probably made her last campaign appearance between now and Election Day,” spokesman Matt Burns told POLITICO. “She’s releasing her support to the two other candidates."
"I had a discussion with her last night, and we made the decision after I spoke with her. We talked about it, what this came down to was spending. It came down to the ability to defend herself from the get-go. And that’s the reality. She was unable to define herself where the people didn’t know her."
Scozzafava's statement:
Dear Friends and Supporters:
Throughout the course of my campaign for Congress, I have made the people of the 23rd District and the issues that affect them the focal point of my campaign. As a life long resident of this District, I care deeply and passionately about its people and our way of life. Whether as a candidate for Congress, a State Assemblywoman or a small town Mayor, I have always sought to act with the best interest of our District and its residents in mind—and today I again seek to act for the good of our community.
The opportunity to run as the Republican and Independence Party candidate to represent the 23rd District has been and remains one of the greatest honors of my life. During the past several months, as I’ve traveled the district, meeting and talking with voters about the issues that matter most to them, I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received as I sought to serve as their voice in Washington. However, as Winston Churchill once said, Democracy can be a fickle employer, and the road to public office is not always a smooth one.
In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money—and as I’ve been outspent on both sides, I’ve been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record. But as I’ve said from the start of this campaign, this election is not about me, it’s about the people of this District. And, as always, today I will do what I believe serves their interests best.
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.
On Election Day my name will appear on the ballot, but victory is unlikely. To those who support me – and to those who choose not to – I offer my sincerest thanks.
Dede
Gingrich endorses Hoffman
October 31st, 2009 01:04 PM ET
From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston
WASHINGTON
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who came under fire from some conservatives for endorsing Dede Scozzafava in next week's special Congressional election in New York, is now backing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.
Gingrich made the announcement via Twitter shortly after the Republican Party nominee Scozzafava announced she was releasing supporters from their commitment to back her.
"Scozzafava dropping out leaves hoffman as only anti-tax anti-pelosi vote in ny 23 Every voter opposed to tax increases support doug hoffman," Gingrich wrote on Twitter. (Tweet shown as it appeared)
Palin Backs 3rd-Party Candidate in N.Y. House Race
Sarah Palin has endorsed a third-party candidate over the GOP-backed contender in New York's congressional special election, saying her own party has abandoned its core values.
The former Alaska governor, who was Arizona Sen. John McCain's running-mate last year, said Thursday she was backing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over Republican Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava in the 23rd Congressional District race.
Palin said Hoffman, a businessman, stands for Republican principles – smaller government, lower taxes and a commitment to individual liberty – and that Scozzafava is more aligned with Democrats.
The offseason race to replace former Rep. John McHugh, whom President Barack Obama named as his Army secretary, has drawn national attention to a growing splinter between Republican moderates and conservatives who say they want the party to return its core values.
"The Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race," Palin said in a post on her Facebook page Thursday night.
Hoffman has been labeled a spoiler by some, but he's looking more like a contender lately, with support from prominent Republicans, including former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, who endorsed Hoffman on Friday.
"The other candidates in this race are far too similar in their records and stated support for much of the Democrats' agenda in Washington," Forbes said.
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Wild Thing's comment.......
I am soooo glad the RINO stopped her campaign.
Scozzafava OUT! Grassroots conservatives - 1; Beltway Republicans - 0
She still didn’t endorse Hoffman. But that just shows everyone how truly wrong she was and how much a RINO she is to the core.
Regarding Newt....Too late Newt. You had a clear choice, and you made the wrong one. Hey Newt, you bashed Sarah and others who backed Hoffman, now you turn around and support Hoffman..you sir are a sleaze bag.
Jim DeMint is also supporting Hoffman.
Here is what Palin said on FaceBook:
I want to personally thank Republican Dede Scozzafava for acting so selflessly today in the NY District 23 race. Now it's time to cross the finish line with Doug Hoffman so that he can get to work for District 23 and the rest of America.
With Congress poised to overhaul one-sixth of our economy with so-called health care “reform” (which is really a government takeover of health care) and with plans to enact a cap-and-tax bill just as our economy struggles to recover, Doug Hoffman will be a voice for fiscal responsibility and common sense in Washington.
We need candidates like Doug now more than ever. In these final days of the campaign, it's vital that Doug continue to receive the enthusiastic support of those who want to bring common sense to Washington. Let’s help make it happen! You can help Doug by visiting his official website today and offering your support: https://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.html
- Sarah Palin
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at November 1, 2009 12:47 AM
Comments
For the RINO to even recognise that she was splitting the ticket in favor of the Dhimmis is a surprising turn of events, I know this doesn't set well with the RNC and NRCC, they were backing Dede Scozzafava and were dead set against Doug Hoffman, that's even more reason than ever to support him.
Posted by: Jack at November 1, 2009 01:13 AM
No RINOs! Yay!
Posted by: Anonymous at November 1, 2009 05:50 AM
This is great news, meaning we are making an impression and the more this happens the more momentum we can pick up in getting back the Congress this coming election.
Did she quit because she was splitting the vote or she saw she couldn't win, or neither would win. She sure as hell didn't do it for the party. The party had better take this as a 'shot' across the bow that the rank and file (The rank and file are saying to the Country Club Blue Blood Republicans, the Rockefellar Republicans ,...Screw You, we want our country back and we got the votes to take it back.) are not going to accept their RINO McCain candidates anymore.
Sarah Palin did herself a great deal of good by endorsing Hoffman. It appears the country's conservatives are fed up with the RNC's way of picking candidates. The RNC had to be scratching their head after Jim Demint and others came out in favor of the CONSERVATIVE.
On the other hand and especially if Hoffman wins, the left will be relentless in trying to destroy Sarah Palin. She single handedly destroyed the 'either/or' candidate that would work with obama and against the House Republicans...but it goes with the territory.
Posted by: Mark at November 1, 2009 07:22 AM
I agree with Chrissie, Jack and Mark. This is a wake up slap to the RNC. It also shows that a real conservative party could possibly be formed.
Posted by: TomR at November 1, 2009 03:23 PM
