Sarah Palin Commends "Future Citizen-Candidates"

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: 2009 Elections

(AP Photo/Harper)

"The race for New York's 23rd District is not over, just postponed until 2010," according to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate enthusiastically endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the special election. Hoffman managed to push the Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava out of the race days before the election, but the Democrat prevailed Tuesday night.

The loss, coupled with two big gubernatorial wins for more moderate Republicans in New Jersey and Virginia, raises questions about whether high-profile conservatives like Palin should continue to push the party to the right.

"After the Republicans come off their Cloud Nine, they have a major issue to resolve within their own party: in what direction is the GOP going?" asks CBS News' Political Director Steve Chaggaris.

On her Facebook page early Wednesday morning, Palin suggested the Republican Party should continue to pursue a more conservative identity.

"I commend Doug Hoffman and all the other under-dog candidates who have the courage to put themselves out there and run against the odds," she wrote. "To the tireless grassroots patriots who worked so hard in that race and to future citizen-candidates like Doug, please remember Reagan's words of encouragement after his defeat in 1976: 'The cause goes on.'"

Palin's comments echo those of Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele.

"Now the bottom line is this, the drama of 23 was nice and cute and fun, [and] everybody made fun about how the party's all fractured," Steele said on the CBS Early Show. "The reality is now that we have a chance to get the seat back in about a year, which we likely will."

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by koko98-2009 November 13, 2009 12:31 PM EST: Postponed? Face it baby, you LOST a seat your party had held for 150 years! If the Republicans can't recover in that district it could really be trouble in 2010 and 2012.; Reply to this comment


by NakedInAnchorage November 4, 2009 6:12 PM EST: For an Alaska resident's view of Sarah Palin, check out this song, "Please Don't Ask Me About Her," at www.hurricanedavemusic.com -- it's a hoot!; Reply to this comment


by thesevenveils November 4, 2009 3:55 PM EST: It is a shame to see this backwoods politician openly pronounce that the Republican party needs to purge itself of its members who do not belong to, nor believe in her values, those of extremist Christian religo-politics. Where religion is politics. Sounds much like some extremists waging a world wide war of terror. All that's missing is the violence.; Reply to this comment


by chitown639 November 4, 2009 3:34 PM EST: Thank you Sarah Palin for helping the Dems gain another congressional seat in the House with your endorsement of the Conservative candidate. The Palin backlash strikes yet again....LMAO!!!; Reply to this comment