Running 3rd in N.Y. Race, GOP Drops Out

Behind Both Democratic and Conservative Party Candidates in Special House Election, Scozzafava Suspends Campaign

(CBS/AP)  Republican Dierdre Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for the New York House and is encouraging supporters to embrace Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman.

Campaign spokesman Matt Burns says the State Assemblywoman thinks dropping out of the 23rd Congressional District race is in the best interests of the party.

The announcement comes after a Siena College poll found she was in third place with 20 percent of the vote in the heavily-Republican district, while Hoffman and Democratic nominee Bill Owens were too close to call, with 35 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

The election is to fill the House seat vacated by Republican Congressman John McHugh, who was appointed by President Obama to become Secretary of the Army.

The election is Tuesday.

Quickly after Scozzafava's announcement, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said the RNC is endorsing Hoffman, saying the change of course is effective immediately and will include financial backing and get-out-the-vote efforts for the Conservative Party candidate.

Steele called Scozzafava's move a "selfless act."

The race has pitted conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party as political leaders seek to stake out the future of the GOP. Some are pushing for an inclusive, moderate future, while the more conservative wing is willing to risk a Democratic win to send a message to Washington.

Scozzafava's critics said she's too moderate, even liberal.

"Conservative Republicans will undoubtedly claim victory in sidelining the moderate GOPer Scozzafava," said CBS News' director of political coverage Steve Chaggaris.

"This has been a big fight among Republicans over the past few weeks, with prominent Republicans such as Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty coming out in favor of the third-party candidate Hoffman, and Newt Gingrich supporting the GOP-backed Scozzafava."

Scozzafava had also received an endorsement from the National Rifle Association.

Other Republicans who have endorsed Hoffman include former N.Y. Governor George Pataki, former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes.

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder said Republicans will derive two lessons from the results of this race: "One is that the activist base of the party is becoming increasingly powerful in the one area that had eluded them: candidate selection. Other conservative Republicans may now feel more comfortable if they decide to challenge incumbents in primaries."

The second lesson, Ambinder says, is that "populist, regular-guy candidates can win in supposedly 'moderate' districts."

He also said Democrats will take the sidelining of Scozzafava as a positive trend for the long-term, believing that the Republican Party will conservatize itself to death demographically.

"I'm fighting for the heart and soul of the Republican Party," Hoffman told The Associated Press last week. "I believe the people in Washington, and the overwhelming response that I've been getting nationally from individuals, is showing that a lot of people feel like it's time for the Republican Party to go back to its base."

In response, Scozzafava spokesperson Matt Burns last week characterized Hoffman's supporters as carpetbaggers: "Everybody who has endorsed Doug Hoffman has something in common with him, and that is that none of them live in the district."

[dd7979]

Ilove how these extreme leftists are so concerned with the Republican party. They saw nothing wrong with Scozzafava, but the fact is she was proved to be the RINO she was accused of being, she would have voted with Obama and now endorses a Dem. Enough of these so-called 'moderates', if they are going to vote with tax and spend leftist then who needs them.
The Dems elected someone from the extreme left with Obama. He didn't have enough record to bash since he only voted 'present' when he was a State Senator and spent his short four years in the US Senate running for President. Now he has a record, and no one else to blame. I'm sure Dems would love it if someone 'moderate' like McCain was the choice in 2012, but that's not going to happen. And if you think Obama and his Mao worshipping croonies are going to pass as moderates then dream on. Republicans will elect a true conservative and then will just bash the Dems who are in charge of the government and say 'double digit unemployment and 17 trillion dollar deficit'

[thebob-bob]

Fear, Hatred, Distortion and Division is all they have to offer.

[ohiopolitico]

Most hard-working, tax-paying Americans have conservative values and Don't agree with Obama's "social experiment". Obama's the front-man for the militant left-wing. We need to put a stop to the dangerous excessive
spending of the Obama administration. It weakens our economy and makes us vulnerable to the rest of the world.

[abby_del_abbey]

It appears that the ideology of the GOP is moving further and further right, and if a candidate does not adhere to that ideological shift she (or he) is bereft of support from the party and made to look like -- gasp! -- a "left-winger" -- surely a sign of evil (at least that is the Word according to Palin and her kin).

Between spreading lies and fear for over 8 years -- the GOP is rapidly becoming a party that reminds me of another group from long ago....

What's next, GOP?

Will it be Brown shirts at your political rallies as you demand that all party adherents goose-step to the right -- the far, far right....

[calmoderate]

How interesting. The media cultural elite have redefined progressives from radical leftists to "moderate republicans". By their redefinitions a candidate/elected officer is a moderate when they support equating homosexual sexual behavior as equal to marriage between one man and one woman, killing children before they are born and eliminating a secret ballot as demaneded by union bosses. By this definition, I guess our founding fathers were members of the "radical right". Ah, nothing like the radical left ( George Soros and Move.on.org ) now defined as moderates.

[licht1]

Now that Dede Scozzafava has dropped out, Hamid Karzai is a shoo-in.

[rightbehind]

If the republicans loose these elections they will be dumping the lockstep policies and conservative ideology. The yellow dog conservative democrats will begin to act like real democrats. I'm glad these elections are occurring. I think every seat except the Presidents should be on the ballot every 2 years. If the democrats sweep the 2010 elections and pull another 8 to 10 republican senate seats we just might get them back on the ballot every 2 years like the house. One thing for sure is if that happens they will represent the will of the people.

[daffy64]

The Nazi...er Republican Party is purging itself of "moderates" (people that think like the average American).

Only in ziss vay can zey be assured uff succezz in de futaa.

[nextgenman09]

They're gonna be really disappointed when Jaysus doesn't come back on the clouds....

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

More like the Fascist Conservatives are jumping ship from the GOP but causing as much havoc as they can for Moderate Candidates.

[skyk-2009]

How humiliating for what used to be the Republican Party, especially in THIS District. They pick a candidate and the forces outside the state and district come along and blow it all up. The Walk of Death continues for that party. This nation has never been single minded or a nation of the extremes. I know this party has been low before but I can not recall, even after the Hoover mess have they been this close to following so many other party's in history... OFF a CLIFF!

[rplat]

The GOP was running a liberal and it didn't work . . . now that they've decided to back a true conservative they will experience a win.

[skyk-2009]

rplat, oh I think the Candidate they picked would have represented that District well indeed. The problem comes when the Religious Reich decided that the candidate the LOCAL Party picked wasn't extreme enough to fit their small and warped view. MAYBE that candidate, now, wins in that district but the damage to the party in trying to rebuild in the Northeast is HISTORY!

[daffy64]

Lol.

[erichsh]

Hey skyk, in fairness, can you name an "extreme liberal"? Or is only Republicans that can be "extreme", in your view?

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

rplat, how can the GOP experience a win if their candidate Quit?
explain your twilight zone logic.

[midlclass]

I like Hoffmans line "I'm fighting for the heart and soul of the republican party! yea the party not the constituents of the district. all hail the GOP. a last minute ditch here of a moderate republican is another sign of hard linness. a prediction here is that most of scozzafava voters will shift to the democrate and he will win be a narrow margine. you can always get a liberal to see both sides of a issue and evaluate and if need be change his mind on that issue. where republican'ts won't it's either there way or the highway. thats why there parties in the mess there in.

[BeckieBest]

The GOP purges another moderate from their ranks as they move further and further to the extreme right.

Rush Limbough is clearly the leader of the Republican party.

[doc_holliday76]

by cbvill72:
The best thing that could happen to this country would be a legitimate 3rd party. The next best thing would be a hard cap on campaign financing.
That would ensure $lobs like Corzine don't get elected to offices.
-------------------------------------------------------





Let me guess.....your idea of a "legitimate third party" would be one of rabid rightwing extremists, that have moved so far to the right of the constipated conservitard miNOrity republican't party, they would just be plain scary to the majority of moderate Americans that exist in the middle of the road.

BTW, would your "hard cap on campaign financing" also keep rabid multi-millionaire conservitards like mitt romney from buying the presidency too?

[erichsh]

Hey doc_holiday, I don't know whether to slam you as just another snotty, arrogant, name-calling liberal prik - or point out to you that according to the latest Gallup poll, people who identify themselves as conservatives are now the largest ideological group, outnumbering liberal priks like you by two to one. You are not only an extremist yourself, you're also in the minority. Get used to it.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123854/Conservatives-Maintain-Edge-Top-Idealogical-Group.aspx

[curse914]

by erichsh November 1, 2009 9:13 AM EST
Hey doc_holiday, I don't know whether to slam you as just another snotty, arrogant, name-calling liberal prik - or point out to you that according to the latest Gallup poll, people who identify themselves as conservatives are now the largest ideological group, outnumbering liberal priks like you by two to one. You are not only an extremist yourself, you're also in the minority. Get used to it.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123854/Conservatives-Maintain-Edge-Top-Idealogical-Group.aspx

[][][][][][][]

Unfortunately, the Religiokooks will always outnumber the few sensible human beings on this planet since they have forced reproduction written into their belief system. "Its not a choice, its for God!" The smartest gaggle of Religinutts to grace the face of this planet were the Shakers who believed that intercourse was a sin, so the outcome of their faith should be obvious. There wont be any Shakers running for the House in New York.

This nation was founded on the ideas seeded in the Enlightenment and Renaissance, both progressive movements that tore away from the 2000 years of stagnation and sqaller of organized religion.

[doc_holliday76]

by louiville35:
"Ummm you do know that Bill Owens was the conservative republican Governor of Colorado, don't you? That's why she is dropping out, they already HAVE A REPUBLICAN running! sheesh read much?"
--------------------------------------------------





Hey einstein....WRONG bill owens! Fairly common name, but why would that affect delusional DENIALISTS in their knee-jerk opinions?

[louiville35]

LOL as soon as hungry goes doc shows up and they post the same stuff/style.

BTW see the photo in the article the guy on the left, that's Bill Owens former Governor of Colorado, so take it up with CBS.

[r9119111]

Not only should the GOP drop out, it should be ashamed of itself for causing the mess we are in.

[hungry1968-17]

by cbvill72 November 1, 2009 12:06 AM EDT

Look at all your "BLUE" states and the cities in them. NY, DETROIT, LA,WASH for example. Look at the crime rates for those cities. Criminals vote for democrats.
A Conservative is a liberal who got mugged the night before.







So your claim is that there isn't ANY CRIME in Dallas, Atlanta, or Miami?

You must be a conservative. That's the only explanation for such a lack of critical thinking skills.

[skyk-2009]

I don't think the Republican Party can last until 2012, let alone win elections. They are being ripped apart by those that have spent 150 years trying to tear the nation apart. I don't think the Party can fool anyone with this spin they have put on the election here... in effect they are falling apart before our very eyes and are, for all intents, a regional fringe party now. I have to wonder how old Abe, who was VERY Liberal, would feel about this outcome... considering his VERY deep dislike for Conservatives.

[louiville35]

Ummm you do know that Bill Owens was the conservative republican Governor of Colorado, don't you? That's why she is dropping out, they already HAVE A REPUBLICAN running! sheesh read much?

[hungry1968-17]

louiville35:

You are so incredibly uneducated, it's unbelievable. And you have the gall to ask "read much"?

They aren't the same person:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Owens_(New_York)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Owens


The Bill Owens from NY, isn't a republican. He's a typical hate America conservative, with the same old failed policies that have BEEN PROVEN to harm our nation time and time again.

[louiville35]

The Bill Owens from NY, isn't a republican. He's a typical hate America conservative, with the same old failed policies that have BEEN PROVEN to harm our nation time and time again.-by hungry1968-17
====================================================================

Ahhh details details but the photo they are showing is of Bill Owens of Colorado fame, so take it up with CBS.

BTW just how many "Conservatives" have you met? Because most I've met were not the self loathing, man is evil, America is more evil, control freaks phliberals (phony liberals) leftists are?

And just look what the guilt trip phliberals left us with welfare three generations of failed intercity families with hundreds of thousands of gang related deaths, millions of drug addicts, violent crime........

Yeah them liberals they are MUCH better?!!??

[skyk-2009]

louiville35, I know that what little there is left of the Republican Party in the Northeast has but TWO members of the entire delegation from the state of New York. I know that party went through the process of picking a candidate they thought would match the beliefs of the citizens and I know a bunch of Right Wing Crazies came along and targeted that candidate. Maybe in Gooberville that works but in REAL America that's just a continuing of what all to many saw during the Bush years. Good luck with that!

[whatithink-2009]

All I see are Republican women quitting. Democratic women seem to be of a tougher stock.

[babooph]

Some business does so well under republicans-Bin Ladin & Che T shirt sales exploded world wide-massive opiate profits are wildly better ,now that the Taliban is weaker-the CIA needs less tax $$$ now getting its share-the rich ,as US propaganda sells are creating jobs-their tax returns fund maids lawn care workers & pool boys-laid off police can get 8$/hr work as security guards in the gated communities-they should gain in the midterm elections....

[TJphoto]

The Conservatives say, and I quote "Lower Taxes and Less Government" Then why are they in such a fix? Because what they say and what they do are two different things. If they told the truth it would be "More Corporate Profits, Less Regulation for our campaign contributors, and shred the Constitution.