Blog Focus On The NY-23 Race
When Republican John McHugh resigned from his position as the U.S. representative of New York's 23rd congressional district to be Obama's Secretary of the Army, it was open season to be his replacement.
Sarah Palin and now Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, both 2012 presidential hopefuls, have endorsed third party candidate Doug Hoffman of the Conservative Party over Republican Dierdre Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens. In other news, there is a party called the "Conservative Party."
• RedState — Pawlenty e-mailed these guys concerning Hoffman's endorsement, noting that: "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." RS's Erick Erickson points out the some of Hoffman's other cheerleaders: Fred Thompson, Dick Armey, Rick Santorum, and Steve Forbes.
• Capitol Confidential/Times-Union — Meanwhile, Bill Owens wants you to know where he stands. The answer: he's standing in a field. And not raising taxes.
• Ace of Spades HQ — The Club For Growth, a group that endorsed Hoffman, released a new poll saying Hoffman has taken a slight lead over Owens, 31.3% to $27. Scozzafava runs at 19.7%, and 22% weren't sure. For their trouble, each poll respondent received their very own grain of salt.
• Memento Moron — Was Pawlenty's third party endorsement his idea, or did he just go along with Palin's decision? Boy Named Sous writes: "Pawlenty did this because, frankly, he can't afford not to. Palin forced his hand."
• Daily Kos — One wonders what the Palin Bump had on this race. Last Friday a Kos poll had Owens leading Scozzafava and Hoffman 35-30-23. Did the bevy of notable conservatives behind Hoffman turn the tide? Or perhaps the NY-23 district is finally preening its historically conservative feathers. Or maybe everyone should just stop looking at poll numbers the same way people oughta quit putting stick into college sports preseason polls. All good ideas.
Follow Technorati