Republican gangs of New York wage civil war

Attempts by Republicans to go "Obama-lite" have backfired disastrously, says Toby Harnden in Washington

Published: 6:54PM GMT 31 Oct 2009


Dede Scozzafava, the Republican Congressional candidate in New York's 23rd district, debates an opponent in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Photo: AP

New York state’s 23rd District, which juts into Canada and is bordered by the People’s Republic of Vermont, is an unlikely place to send a message to the Republican party about how to defeat President Barack Obama in 2012.

It is, however, home to the United States Army’s 10th Mountain Division, which has distinguished itself in Afghanistan, and the shot it has just fired by forcing the withdrawal of the party's official candidate - so moderate, she was barely distinguishable from an Obama Democrat - in Tuesday's special election is certainly being heard in Washington, and perhaps even around the world.

So how did this example of people power come about? The 23rd’s voters are due to turn out to decide who will be their next member of the House of Representatives. The contest was set up by President Barack Obama when he picked John McHugh, the district’s moderate Republican congressman, to be his Army Secretary Army.

Eleven county Republican chairs decided to select Assemblywoman Dierdre “Dedeâ€