Doug Hoffman Unconcedes NY-23 Race

While on Glenn Beck’s radio show yesterday conservative candidate Doug Hoffman unconceded.

From The Hill: 

Hoffman appeared on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's radio show this afternoon. Beck asked the him if he would "unconcede."

"Yes, if I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded," Hoffman said. Beck asked him again if he was "unconceding" and Hoffman replied, "If that’s possible, yes."

This all comes about because last week after a recanvasing of the district, Democrat bill Owen’s lead shrank from 5,335 votes to 3,026 votes with another 10,000 absentee ballots left to be counted.

On election night I thought Hoffman was a little too quick with the conceding.  This is New York after all. Election shenanigans are nothing new.  The Hill reports that  even with the uncounted ballots, Hoffman has little chance. Plus there is still that business of what to do about Bill Owens who was already sworn in. 

If by some chance Hoffman was to win, what is the procedure to remove Owens?  If that procedure is something that requires the Democrats to acquiesce in some manner, then forget about it.  They are completely tone deaf to the will of the people.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Updated: Hoffman and Christie Take The Lead

If Public Policy Polling is correct Doug Hoffman has taken a commanding lead in the NY-23 race against Bill Owens.

From Public Policy Polling: 

In a three way contest with Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Dede Scozzafava Hoffman leads with 51% to 34% for Owens and 13% for Scozzafava. In a head to head contest with Owens Hoffman holds a 54-38 advantage. 

[snip] 

Hoffman is leading Scozzafava 71-15 among Republicans with 12% going to Owens. Among Democrats Owens gets 67% to 21% for Hoffman and 10% for Scozzafava. Hoffman leads Owens 52-30 with independents. MORE 

Public Policy Polling also shows Chris Christie inching ahead of Jon Corzine in the New Jersey Gubernatorial race.

From Public Policy Polling: 

Chris Christie leads Jon Corzine 47-41 in PPP's final poll of the New Jersey Governor's race, with Chris Daggett at 11%.

Corzine had pulled to within a point of Christie on our poll three weeks ago after trailing by as many as 14 points over the summer, but his momentum has stalled since then and Christie's built his lead back up to 4 points last week and now 6. MORE

Public Policy Polling caught something I noticed too at the Chris Christie rally I attended last Friday:

As is the case around the country this year enthusiasm is on the Republicans' side in New Jersey. 47% of Christie's supporters say they're 'very excited' about voting this fall to just 34% of Corzine's. The electorate is also likely to be more Republican leaning this year with likely voters reporting that they voted for Obama by a 54-43 margin in 2008, a spread narrower than the actual 57-42 result in the state.

It is the enthusiasm I believe that will make the difference for Christie tomorrow.  Republicans are in a pitchfork kind of mood and if they cannot get the little devils in Washington, they can take it out on Corzine.

Should these numbers hold, Obama and the Democrats are looking at a complete rebuke of all their policies. Look for ObamaCare to hit a brick wall.

UPDATE - Quinnipiac Christie +2

Quinnipiac:

In the see-saw New Jersey Governor's race, Republican challenger Christopher Christie has 42 percent to Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's 40 points, with 12 percent for independent candidate Christopher Daggett, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Six percent remain undecided.

UPDATE #2 Siena Hoffman 41 Owens 36

Via: Memeorandum, Memeorandum

Via: Public Policy Polling,Hoffman

Via: Public Policy Polling Christie
Via: Quinnipiac
Via: Siena

A NY-23 Update: Steele Accepts Hoffman, Biden Stumps For Owens

The latest info from the very exciting NY-23 race comes from two stories in Politico.

First we have Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele saying that a Hoffman win is a GOP win.

From Politico: 

“You’ve got two Republicans running in that race. My upside is that one of them will likely win,” Steele said. “We want to be supporting the one that wins.”

“I don’t split the party into conservative or not,” he said. “I’m looking as the national chairman to walk out of there one way or the other with a win.”

Asked if he would support Hoffman in 2010 if the Conservative Party candidate won the special election and sought reelection, Steele responded: “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Is he a Republican?” Steele asked. “He’s the Conservative Party nominee, but he ran initially as a Republican.”

Oh so now he is Republican. Where was that thought as so many in the GOP leadership was just peachy with über RINO Scozzafava? Steele’s response for why he did not have anything to say about Scozzafava getting picked had this to say: 

“My responsibility was to support the choice of the state party. They made their choice,” Steele said, though he added that he had “no idea” why the Scozzafava won the nomination because he was “not involved.”

Referring to the numerous prominent Republicans who have bucked the party establishment and endorsed Hoffman, Steele pointed to his own responsibilities as party chairman.

“I don’t get to pick-and-choose like that,” Steele said. “They make their own personal and political choices.”

Ok so you cannot pick and choose, but as the National Committee Chairman, I think if you held your nose every time her name was mentioned, they would get the point.

Asked if a Hoffman win would be a referendum on the GOP Steele said: 

“Is it a referendum on the Republican Party? Yes, in terms of how we’ve healed and how we’ve turned the corner,” the RNC chairman said. “This could be the test to see if we are able to do that.” 

Not quite Mikey, the referendum would be that the base is sick and tired of the GOP slapping R on the end of the name of anyone with a pulse. Put out the word loud and clear, the people want principled candidates!

About Joe Biden stumping for the Democratic candidate Bill Owens, methinks I smell desperation. The way things are panning out; New Jersey is looking like the only possibility for the Democrats. After visiting a Chris Christie rally last night, I would put that on shaky grounds too,

Joe has had a few incidents of low turn out when he has headlined and considering he Bagdad Bob impersonations with touting the Stimulus, I would count Biden as credible support.

From Politico: 

The White House is sending Vice President Joe Biden to upstate New York to campaign for Democrat Bill Owens in a last-minute push to help Democrats pick up the longtime Republican House seat.

The Biden rally will be taking place next Monday morning in Watertown.

“I’m honored to have the President and Vice President’s support," Owens said in a statement announcing the vice-presidential visit. "I am excited to welcome the Vice President to Watertown where we’ll discuss my plans to create jobs Upstate and my commitment to helping turn the page on the George Bush economic agenda.”

The Biden event comes the day before the special election, which has turned into a two-way contest between Owens and a third-party Conservative challenger, Doug Hoffman, who has captured the momentum in the race in the last several days. 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: Politico

Former NYS Governor George Pataki Endorses Doug Hoffman

Add another Republican to the growing list of endorsement for Doug Hoffman.  Today former New York State Governor George Pataki has endorsed Doug Hoffman for NY-23 congressional seat. 

What is surprising here is that according to Politico, Pataki is endorsing Hoffman despite several of his former staffers coming out for Scozzafava!

From Politico: 

Several of Pataki's former staffers are playing key roles with Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign, and he wouldn’t be endorsing against her unless the writing was on the wall that there was no chance she could pull out a victory. 

Here is Pataki’s endorsement: 

As someone personally engaged in the way of life in the Adirondacks and Northern New York, I’m deeply concerned about the course of our nation and the outcome of the election in the 23rd Congressional District.

Simply put, we cannot afford to give another vote to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid we cannot afford another vote for higher taxes, we cannot afford another vote for government run health care and we absolutely cannot afford another vote to take away from hard working men and women the right to secret ballot.

That is why tonight, I’m proud to endorse Doug Hoffman, a Republican, running on the Conservative line for Congress in the 23rd Congressional District.

Doug Hoffman will stand up to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. He will fight for all the residents of northern New York. He will fight for our proud servicemen and women at Fort Drum, our dairy farmers in Lowville and our manufacturers in Plattsburgh.

As a businessman, and as a life-long resident of the North Country Doug Hoffman understands the need to lower taxes on working families, the need to stand tall against terror and he won’t back phony stimulus programs that fail to create the jobs we need and leaves a mountain of debt to our children.

When elected to Congress Doug will work to reduce our taxes, he will stand tall against those who despise our freedoms and he will be a vigilant stalwart against those who would substitute government programs for individual initiative.

And Doug Hoffman can win.

I urge all the voters of the 23rd Congressional District – Republican Democrat, Independent and Conservative to come out and vote for Doug Hoffman for Congress.  

Go Hoffman!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

NRCC Sings A Different Tune On Doug Hoffman

Now that the Daily Kos poll is out showing Hoffman only one point behind the Democrat Owens and Scozzafava dropping to last place, the NRCC is now sounding a welcoming note to conservative upstart Doug Hoffman.

From Politico [emphasis added mine] 

On Thursday afternoon, Sessions appeared to tacitly acknowledge that Hoffman may represent the GOP’s best chance to keep the Republican-held seat from being picked up by a Democrat.

“I think it’s pretty clear that a person who would vote for John Boehner, support tax cuts, support growing our economy, and defeat Nancy Pelosi’s tax and spend agenda will be really welcome in our conference, and I think having a person who can win that district off that message would be really good for the Republican Party,” Sessions said. MORE

Therein lies the problem for the NRCC. “That message” as Pete Sessions puts it, is the message that the GOP should be putting forward regardless of where the race is held.  It is my believe that one of the very reasons why Chris Christie stands a very good chance of losing on Tuesday is because he has put forward a very weak conservative message against the huge tax and spend Corzine. Even now Christie is wasting time getting into a “fat fight”.

On Tuesady should Doug Hoffman pull out a win, there will be shockwaves sent though both the Democrat and Republican parties. Both parties would have been served notice that the electorate is more than willing to support third party candidates that have their heads screwed on right.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: Hot Air

Via: Democracy Corps

Via: Politico

Another Poll Puts Doug Hoffman In The Lead!

From Real Clear Politics: 

NY-23 Poll: Hoffman +5

For the second time in two days, a poll released by a conservative group finds Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman leading the Nov. 3 special election race for New York's 23rd District. Neighborhood Research polled the district for Minuteman PAC, the political arm of the Minuteman Movement, which has endorsed Hoffman and is airing ads on his behalf.

Hoffman leads Democrat Bill Owens by 5 points and GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava by 20 points.

Hoffman 34

Owens 29

Scozzafava 14

Und 23

The poll was taken Oct. 25-26 of 366 likely voters. The three candidates are vying to replace former congressman John McHugh (R-N.Y.), who was appointed by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army.

Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative group, released a poll yesterday showing Hoffman up 4 points. CfG has also endorsed Hoffman in the race. 

This is exciting news.  For the second day in a row polls are placing Hoffman ahead of both liberals.  Should Hoffman win this race, shockwaves will be sent to both parties. Democrats will know that their big government plans are thoroughly distasteful to the American public and Republicans will learn that they had better get back to their conservative roots or else.

Go Hoffman!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Real Clear Politics

Tim Pawlenty Endorses Doug Hoffman

From Eric Erickson at Red State: 

Tim Pawlenty: “We cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress on issues like card check and taxes. After reviewing the candidates’ positions, I’m endorsing Doug Hoffman in New York’s special election. Doug understands the federal government needs to quit spending so much, will vote against tax increases, and protect key values like the right to vote in private in union elections.” 

A very good statement by T-Paw, especially the first sentence.  Erickson also sees Pawlenty’s endorsement carrying more weight than Palin’s, because Pawlenty is a sitting Governor and has ties to the GOP Establishment.  

What makes this stand out even more than the Palin endorsement is that Pawlenty has not been seen as diverging with the Republican establishment. He’s not seen as the maverick that Palin is.

But Pawlenty has a huge amount of stature inside the Republican establishment, more so than Palin. That he is now willing to come out in favor of Hoffman is going to resonate among the Republican establishment in ways Palin’s endorsement will not. 

Granted I am biased towards Palin, but I kind of read Pawlenty’s endorsement as “safe” especially since he waited until this new CFG poll has come out showing Hoffman in the lead.  Pawenty’s endorsement would have been ground breaking had he made it right after Newt’s endorsement.

Pawlenty has been showing a willingness to align with the Tea Party movement and has been sharply critical of the Obama administration.  However, I still find the man a complete bore and I think his willingness to align with the Tea Party movement has more to do with covering up his not so conservative record.  

Anyway time will tell and his endorsement is a good start.  By the way, has anyone seen Mitt Romney?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Red State

CFG Poll: Hoffman Takes The Lead!

The Club For Growth has a new poll out that indicated that conservative Doug Hoffman is now in the lead.

From Club For Growth: 

The poll of 300 likely voters, conducted October 24-25, 2009, shows Conservative Doug Hoffman at 31.3%, Democrat Bill Owens at 27.0%, Republican Dede Scozzafava at 19.7%, and 22% undecided. The poll's margin of error is +/- 5.66%. No information was provided about any of the candidates prior to the ballot question. 

It should be noted that this isn’t the very best poll out there. The sample size is rather small and the margin of error is enormous.  Two more accurate polls are due out this week that may very well confirm Hoffman’s new lead and may give us an indication if Palin’s endorsement and Scozzafava’s screw ups played a role.

Should Hoffman now be in the lead, it will signify major trouble for the GOP who has been backing a ton of RINOs.  The conservative base is using it newfound activism to upset the old playbook of Quantity trumping Quality candidates. I would keep a close eye on Marco Rubio vs. Charlie Crist. That race is begging to be flipped.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Club For Growth

Sarah Palin Endorses Doug Hoffman For NY-23

Sarah Palin gets it! In her endorsement of Doug Hoffman for NY-23, Sarah Palin is taking a firm stand on the side of true conservative principles.


Palin's quote of Ronald Reagan's timeless speech "A Time For Choosing" makes it clear that she has chosen to stand apart from the GOP leadership.  I have often said that Sarah Palin will play one or two roles in 2012.  Either she is running for the nomination or she is going to force the GOP back to the right.


For Doug Hoffman, Palin's endorsement could be just the thing to put him over the top, thus sending a final and clear message to the GOP leadership that change has come to the Republican party and RINO candidates simply will not do.


Without a single doubt the NY-23 race is turning out to be the most exciting and most important race of the year.


Below is Palin's statement as given to the Weekly Standard:

The people of the 23rd Congressional District of New York are ready to shake things up, and Doug Hoffman is coming on strong as Election Day approaches! He needs our help now. 

The votes of every member of Congress affect every American, so it's important for all of us to pay attention to this important Congressional campaign in upstate New York. I am very pleased to announce my support for Doug Hoffman in his fight to be the next Representative from New York's 23rd Congressional district. It's my honor to endorse Doug and to do what I can to help him win, including having my political action committee, SarahPAC, donate to his campaign the maximum contribution allowed by law.

Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a "time for choosing." 

The federal government borrows, spends, and prints too much money, while our national debt hits a record high. Government is growing while the private sector is shrinking, and unemployment is on the rise. Doug Hoffman is committed to ending the reckless spending in Washington, D.C. and the massive increase in the size and scope of the federal government. He is also fully committed to supporting our men and women in uniform as they seek to honorably complete their missions overseas. 

And best of all, Doug Hoffman has not been anointed by any political machine. 

Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty. 

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, 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. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket. 

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual. 

You can help Doug by visiting his official website below and joining me in supporting his campaign: 

http://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.html.

- Sarah Palin 

Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Weekly Standard 

Club For Growth Ad Calls Out The TWO Liberals In The NY23 Special Election

From The Club For Growth: 

Washington - Club for Growth and Club for Growth PAC will launch a $300,000 television ad campaign tomorrow in the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District. The campaign follows the Club for Growth PAC's Sept. 28 endorsement of Doug Hoffman, a Republican running on the Conservative ticket, over liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens.

The television ad (seen below) will run in all three of the principle TV markets in NY-23 (Watertown, Burlington, and Syracuse). The ad asks, "Tired of choosing between two liberals for Congress?" Both Scozzafava and Owens support big government policies like Obama's stimulus plan, Cash for Clunkers, and "card check." Thankfully, there is a better choice in conservative Doug Hoffman, who is an Army veteran, financial expert, and small business owner.

"There's a stark contrast in the three candidates running in this race," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. "The two liberals, Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens, support the Pelosi tax and spend agenda, while Doug Hoffman offers a fiscally conservative alternative based on lower taxes and limited government. Hoffman is the only candidate in the race who will fight for less wasteful spending, no more bailouts, and no tax hikes on hard working Americans." 

Now this is the kind of stuff I am talking about, calling out Dede Scozzafava for exactly what she is … a liberal! Perhaps if Chris Christie would take this tone against Governor Corzine, he would not be watching his lead evaporate.

The GOP and the Democrats are determined to send another liberal to Congress and they are both spending big bucks on doing just that.

From The Other McCain [emphasis added, mine]: 

 UPDATE: More news on the crucial special election in upstate New York from The Hill: 

[T]he NRCC has spent $567,000 on Scozzafava's behalf, and the DCCC has spent $387,000 on Owens's behalf.

Also in recent days, SEIU has gone up with a $100,000 radio ad buy for Owens -- its first investment in the race.

NRCC spending Republican money on RINO Dede, the DCCC and SEIU spending money on Democrat Owens, what are you spending your money on? 

RS McCain is right, if we really want a true conservative in Congress, then we need to put our money where our mouth is and show the GOP once and for all that they cannot go shoving RINO horns up our butts!

So even if you don’t live in NY, give to Doug Hoffman and send a clear message to the GOP: NO MORE RINOs EVER!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Club For Growth

Via: The Other McCain