Thread: Republican Scozzafava Endorses Democrat After Exiting N.Y. C

FOXNews.com

November 01, 2009
Republican Scozzafava Endorses Democrat After Exiting N.Y. Congressional Race

Republican Dede Scozzafava endorses Democrat Bill Owens in the race for New York's 23rd Congressional District, one day after dropping out of the race.

Republican Dede Scozzafava endorsed her former Democratic opponent Sunday in the race for an upstate New York congressional seat, shaking up the contest for the second day in a row after exiting the race Saturday.

Scozzafava dropped out after Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman experienced a late-in-the-game surge. The move was expected to consolidate GOP voters behind Hoffman on Tuesday.

But on Sunday, Scozzafava issued a written statement in which she backed Democrat Bill Owens.

"I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same," she said. "In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first."

Hoffman and Owens are competing for the 23rd Congressional District seat formerly held by Republican John McHugh, who was lured away by the Obama administration to be Army secretary.

Scozzafava was criticized by members of her party for being too moderate on social issues. However, it's unclear how much of an impact her endorsement will have as there were mixed messages coming out of the GOP -- a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee said Saturday that Scozzafava was releasing her supporters to vote for Hoffman.

And poll numbers suggest Owens would have to make significant inroads among Republican moderates to pull support away from Hoffman. A Siena Research Institute survey showed 64 percent of Scozzafava voters were self-identified Republicans -- only 19 percent identified themselves as Democrats.

Democrats, though, were clearly banking on Scozzafava to try to tilt the balance in their favor.

White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett said on ABC's "This Week" that Democrats would "love" to have the Republican candidate back Owens.

"It's rather telling when the Republican Party forces out a moderate Republican and it says, I think, a great deal about where the Republican Party is right now," she said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11 ... onal-race/

The republican party has had a identity crisis for some time, no surprise here. In 10 years i predict both Dem & Rep parties will no longer exist or have little or no influence. Good riddens.

"I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same," she said. "In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first."

How did that party loyalty work out for you Newt? Idiot!

Sounds like sour grapes to me. She was the choice of her local GOP, bad choice since the voters weren't buying it. They abandoned the party and went with an independent. What's that say? Don't piss off your base.

She's mad and wants to get even!!!

Is there any question whatsoever that she was a RINO? I don't think it really matters who she endorses. The telling point will be how the turnout is tomorrow. Typically it is light in special elections. I believe the conservative base is far more motivated than the Democrat base in this election. If that is so, they will turn out in greater numbers and Hoffman will win.

Just TYPICAL NY POLITICS.