Campaign Crawlers
Doug Hoffman, Ordinary American
A grassroots candidate seeks a “miracle” in the 23rd District.
State Route 3 runs through New York’s 23rd Congressional District from Hannibal on the west end near Lake Ontario to Plattsburgh on the shore of Lake Champlain that forms the state’s eastern border with the Vermont.
From Hannibal, it takes about an hour and a half to drive to Watertown (population 27,310, which makes it one of the district’s largest towns). Drive another 115 miles east from Watertown, and State Route 3 crosses a bridge and becomes known locally as River Street. There’s a pizza shop on the right as you cross the intersection with Main Street. Just past Church Street on the left, in the former location of a Nice ‘n’ Easy convenience store, is the main headquarters of the Doug Hoffman for Congress campaign.
Friday afternoon, two campaign staffers and a handful of volunteers were manning Hoffman HQ, stuffing envelopes, answering phones and handing out yard signs to supporters who occasionally dropped in. Unless you were already aware of the news surrounding the Conservative Party candidate in this three-way special election, you’d never suspect that this building in Saranac Lake, N.Y. (population 4,908) was Ground Zero for one of the biggest political stories of the year.
Just a few weeks ago, Doug Hoffman never would have suspected such a thing. The candidate has expressed astonishment that his underdog campaign against two major party opponents has suddenly made him the hero of conservatives nationwide. “I would have laughed in disbelief,” Hoffman said in a Sunday column for the New York Post, describing a few of the most recent developments in the campaign.
Thursday morning, Hoffman was endorsed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey in an event at the campaign’s office in Watertown. Then he traveled to Syracuse for an afternoon press conference where he reciprocated by endorsing the flat tax, a policy long promoted by Armey, who is now chairman of FreedomWorks.
By the time Armey and Hoffman appeared in Syracuse, rumors were already swirling and, within a few hours, the buzz was confirmed when Hoffman unexpectedly picked up the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican Party’s 2008 vice-presidential candidate. That day, the Hoffman campaign raised $116,000 in online contributions.
Things were happening so fast that plans for a sit-down interview with Hoffman on Friday were canceled between the time I left Watertown and the time I arrived in Saranac Lake. An aide phoned to explain that producers for the Neal Cavuto show had just called and the candidate was on his way to Albany for a 4:30 p.m. appearance via satellite on the Fox News Channel program.
Still, I kept driving until I reached 111 River Street. There is a story behind the building that now serves as Hoffman HQ. It was in the summer of 1964 at this location, then a Mobil station, that Doug Hoffman took a job pumping gas. His father had abandoned the family when Doug was 10 and, as the second-oldest of four children, his income was needed to help his mother pay the bills.
Such is the symbolic meaning of the headquarters site, while the meaning of the campaign to elect Hoffman — now a successful executive for a major accounting firm — has now become apparent to everyone who pays attention to politics.
The Nov. 3 election to replace longtime Rep. John McHugh, a Republican appointed by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army, has especially drawn the attention of conservatives in recent weeks. That’s mainly because the New York GOP leadership picked liberal state assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their candidate, sparking a struggle that pits the Republican establishment against grassroots activists — “a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party,” as Hoffman calls it.
Given his hardscrabble upbringing, Hoffman’s sympathies are clearly with the conservative grassroots. He was able to get a college education only because his excellent academic record in high school inspired local businessmen to establish a scholarship fund to assist him. Joining the National Guard also helped, and he served a total of six years in Guard and Army Reserves before finishing his enlistment as a staff sergeant. Shortly thereafter, already married with two young children, Hoffman completed his MBA at the University of Connecticut and returned home. At age 27, he became controller — that is to say, the chief accountant — for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee, responsible for a multimillion dollar budget.
Memories of that Winter Olympiad, particularly the U.S. hockey team’s gold-medal upset of the heavily favored Soviet squad, is something of a touchstone for the Hoffman campaign. Speaking Thursday to supporters in Waterstown, the candidate echoed ABC sportscaster Al Michaels’ famous words — “Do you believe in miracles?” — when he said, “We’re going to create a miracle on Nov. 3… That miracle starts today.”
The surprise endorsement by Palin? The stupendous outpouring of online donations? A nice start, by any measure, but with Election Day now barely a week away, Team Hoffman knows they’ll need hard work to defeat both the GOP candidate Scozzafava and the Democrat, Bill Owens.
More than anything, one source with the Hoffman campaign said, they’re concerned about the army of election operatives that labor unions and the ACORN-connected Working Families Party — which has ties to both Scozzafava and Owens — will bring into action in the final week of the campaign. To counter that threat, the source said, they’re sending out a nationwide call for grassroots volunteers to come to the 23rd District and provide “boots on the ground” for Hoffman.
In his Post column, Hoffman declared himself one of those “mad as hell” ordinary citizens who have protested at Tea Party rallies and town-hall meetings, and concluded by saying that this election in upstate New York is far more important than mere partisan politics: “This is a fight for our children’s future. It’s a fight for America.”
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (73) | Leave a comment
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Rent A Yenta| 10.26.09 @ 3:11AM
How quaint…a man that actually WORKS for a living and can identify with the voters wants and needs. I heard him on a radio interview last week and was thoroughly impressed. His feet are firmly planted on American soil. Wish I lived in his district so I could vote for Doug Hoffman. But, I'll be pulling for him from here in Oregon. May his Nov. 3rd "Miracle" come to pass so we can begin to take back our country!
alyeska| 10.26.09 @ 4:13PM
Conservative Party's Hoffman Unable To Answer Questions On Local Issues In NY-23
the watertown daily news
(but what do they know:)
Chris in NY-23| 10.27.09 @ 12:28AM
I think Hoffman should have been better prepared, but it was an ambush. Neither of the other 2 candidates have had to answer their line of questioning, but now that the name of the game is "gotcha", you can bet that they will be better prepared. The "issues" they brought up - Rooftoop Highway, Seaway Winter Navigation and some energy thing - most people in the district have never heard of... because people don't read the paper anymore.
Michael| 11.1.09 @ 1:36AM
Wow, the conservatives always have excuses. Why not just go ahead and say it was the "lib-ruhl" media's fault.
Lou| 10.26.09 @ 10:42PM
I'll bet Doug Hoffman wishes he lived in this district also. He is a resident of Lake Placid, which is part of the 20 th district. Shouldn't a congressman live in the district he represents?
Reality Check| 10.26.09 @ 11:22PM
- Hoffman owns businesses in the 23rd district and has spent his whole life in taht part of NY state.
- Hoffman did live in the district until it was redrawn last time and the new lines put his home 10 miles outside of the boundary.
- No, there's no requirement for a congressman to live in the district.
Chromie| 10.26.09 @ 11:59PM
You mean like Clinton lived in New York to become senator?
Michael| 11.1.09 @ 1:36AM
Actually she did genius, her home was in New York.
Chris in NY-23| 10.27.09 @ 12:32AM
This would be a concern, say if he were from Long Island or Jamestown. Lake Placid is 10 miles from Saranac Lake, where he grew up. Lake Placid has been gerrymandered out of the district, but it is surrounded by it on 3 sides.
I won't get hung up on imaginary boundary lines. What matters is that he is a North Country resident (as are the other 2 candidates) and he knows the area and the people in it.
The American Guardian | 10.26.09 @ 6:50AM
Hoffman would be a nice start to winning the Governor's mansion in New York next year, which would also be a nice start to winning the 2012 elections also.
Larry| 10.26.09 @ 7:30AM
McCain, who is constantly soliciting donations and volunteers for Hoffman on his personal blog, alleges here that both of his candidate's opponents have unspecified "ties" to the Working Families Party, which in turn is "connected" in an unspecified way to Acorn. This guilt-by-association tactic is pretty rich coming from McCain, who has decried those who have documented his own relationships with American Renaissance and overthrow.com.
If American Spectator is going to leave its coverage of this race to a shill for one of the candidates, can an editor at least insist that McCain provide some facts to back up his biased reporting?
JerseyJK| 10.26.09 @ 1:59PM
Larry ... "McCain, who is constantly soliciting donations and volunteers for Hoffman on his personal blog, alleges here that both of his candidate's opponents have unspecified "ties" to the Working Families Party"
Well the WFP endorsed Owens in this race and backed Scozzy in her 2004 & 2008 State Assembly runs.
How are these "unspecified" ties?
Chris in NY-23| 10.27.09 @ 12:34AM
Working Families Party co-chair is ACORN's Bertha Lewis.
PCP Smoker| 10.26.09 @ 8:40PM
Larry
You are fucking scumbag. Acorn is a criminal organization and your are fucking creep for defending them. I hope you die
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 7:42AM
The News Factor: updated headlines 10-26-09 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 8:41AM
The American Spectator: Doug Hoffman, Ordinary American | DC SMELL REPORT links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Robert Stacy McCain | 10.26.09 @ 8:42AM
Thank you, Larry. You have invented a new internet phenomenon:
The Objectivity Troll.
Perhaps while busy rooting out "biased reporting," you should likewise excoriate me for writing about Crimson Tide football, when I am the son of a 'Bama alumnus and an unabashed Tide fan. While you're at it, you should also denounce me for writing about Christmas carols without bothering to hide my own Christian beliefs.
Well, enough about me. Let's hear more about you, Larry.
Al Adab| 10.26.09 @ 3:40PM
Now Mr. McCain,
Hook 'em Horns! Nonetheless, thanks for a timely article.
Big J| 10.26.09 @ 8:57AM
Nice reply, RSM. I figured you would be popping in here for a brief troll smack-down.
Reminds me of the smack-down Newt (an establishment republican in every sense of the word) received by Sarah Palin. As you stated, she has taken a huge risk in the endorsement of Hoffman, but it is based on PRINCIPLE, not politics. Very refreshing in our current climate.
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 9:05AM
Doug Hoffman, a Republican rejected by the GOP in favor of a Socialist; get a clue Ne links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
TJ from Texas| 10.26.09 @ 9:30AM
Nice comments today.
Has anyone else noticed that TAS has not been doin' much with Reader Mail lately?
I miss hearing from my gal, Bev..
Robert Stacy McCain | 10.26.09 @ 9:35AM
Larry the Objectivity Troll demands that I "provide some facts."
OK, this is something we call the "Internet," Larry. With two notebooks full of material to work from, I easily could have written 3,000 words, but felt it best to try to bring this installment to a conclusion in about 1,000, so that it could fit on a single Web page, rather than be split into two or three pages, requiring the reader to follow what, in the newspaper world, we would call a "jump."
Considering the need for relative brevity, I included something that Internet experts call "hyperlinks," so that readers could click over and read other things about the race, including my own previous reporting (biased or otherwise). Thus, the phrase " "boots on the ground" featured a hyperlink to an exclusive report I filed on AmSpecBlog on Sunday afternoon, detailing at some length the ACORN connection to NY23:
The crucial Nov. 3 special election in upstate New York features two candidaties -- liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens -- connected to the Working Families Party (WFP) which is the New York political arm of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).
On New York's multi-party ballot, Scozzafava previously ran in New York on the WFP line (a distinction she shared with Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry in 2004 and with Barack Obama in 2008). In this three-way congressional election, however, the WFP is going with Democrat Bill Owens.
That makes Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman the only one seeking the 23rd District seat who isn't connected to ACORN. . . .
Larry, you can read the whole thing, as they say, and be sure to follow the links in that story. If there is some error of fact in my reporting, please let me know.
As Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, you are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.
Tim| 10.26.09 @ 12:34PM
What's all this business about you driving to New York? If you're not careful they'll accuse you of being a journalist.
rae4palin | 10.26.09 @ 12:37PM
LOL. Love a good troll smack-down.
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 10:07AM
The Fringe Media is afraid this is going to “LEAK OUT” and get their Chosen One all W links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
hardius| 10.26.09 @ 10:21AM
I also reside in the wrong state to support this candidate and wish for someone like him to run here. I hope the RNC takes a nasty wake-up slap in the face with this election.
Support Not Limited to Vote| 10.26.09 @ 1:17PM
I just want to point out, there is NO "wrong state" for supporting Hoffman - go to his website and send some MONEY! "Support" is NOT limited to being in the district & voting for him!
Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 10.26.09 @ 3:31PM
I don't live in NY-23 either, but I donated. You want to support? Money talks!! And bullcrap doesn't!!
Al Adab| 10.26.09 @ 3:36PM
This conversation was ongoing Friday on this very site. Hoffman was hoping to raise 125K so we challenged Conservatives to make it 250K. Lets do it. Like the man at Concord bridge said, "If they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
At the same time, call or e-mail the RNC and demand they make Scozza..whatever quit. Be sure and tell them that your money is going to candidates, not theRNC. Another lefty accomodationist GOP candidate is not what we need. The old rules have changed and the RNC better learn it.
Let's win one for the Gipper. What do you say Conservatives?
Bob Belvedere | 10.26.09 @ 11:44AM
I love the smell of a good Fisking in the morning. Bravo Stacy on both of your replies and a pox on Larry's.
Quoted from and Linked to at:
23 SKIDOO VI
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 12:49PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Doug Hoffman, Ordinary American [spe links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
samir| 10.26.09 @ 1:15PM
I'm not so sure getting endorsed by a white supremacist is a good thing.
Nick| 10.26.09 @ 2:31PM
I didn't know Scozzafava had been endorsed by a white supremacist.
Unless you're talking about the Margret Sanger award she received? Does that constitute an "endorsement" of Scozzafava? I guess it does. And Sanger was certainly a white supremacist.
Thanks for pointing this out, Samir.
Northern Rebel| 10.26.09 @ 1:19PM
I just moved out of that district, to Connecticut, last June. McHugh was fairly conservative, and my county was Madison, easily the most conservative in NY.
Hoffman has a real chance, because the republican party is in tatters in that state.
BTW, Mr. McCain is absolutely right about the workers(socialist) party and their connection to ACORN. I lived in that district for ten years, and it is the truth.
Oldefarte| 10.26.09 @ 1:20PM
If he's good enough for Armey and Palin, he's definately a true conservative candidate and should be elected. If I were a citizen of New York, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. This political fight should only concern whether a candidate is conservative or liberal, and should ignore party labels. As Hoffman said, it all about this country's survival!!!!!!!!!!
Al Adab| 10.26.09 @ 3:38PM
Old Friend, (sic)
See above and send money. Call the RNC and give 'em what for.
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 2:12PM
race42008.com » Blog Archive » NY-23 Poll: Doug Hoffman Winning. Jim Geraghty: “Dede links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tim| 10.26.09 @ 2:29PM
"If I were a citizen of New York, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. "
See, this shouldn't stop you. If Democrat tactics have taught us anything it's that voting isn't about where you live. Contact your local ACORN office Mr. Farte.
shoey| 10.26.09 @ 2:41PM
Hoffman might be able to do it, keep that money flowing folks, we are making a difference. the Old Guard are quaking in their boots right now, bet on it.
John OB| 10.26.09 @ 4:21PM
Win Win here for Conservatives. Scozzafava will not win. This is a special election. If Hoffman doesn't win it now he can run for this seat again in 2010 when he will.
A Mom| 10.26.09 @ 4:25PM
GIVE MONEY! Doesn't matter what state you're in, just go to Hoffman's website and give as much as you possibly can (the max is $2500, I believe, but if you can only throw $10 his way, THROW IT!)
Then write to all your conservative friends and relatives and tell them to do the same. That's what I did.
And hurry because there's not much time left!
Mary Louise| 10.26.09 @ 4:36PM
I've had problems w/pay pal so I don't like to use it, but I just got off the phone w/a Hoffman rep, and he gave me the address to send a check.
During this final stretch funds are probably just as needed as ever, maybe more so. And I can't imagine he/they would mind me posting it for those who might want to do the same:
Doug Hoffman For Congress
P.O. Box 708
Saranac Lake, NY 12893
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 7:14PM
Valuable Internet Information » The American Spectator : Doug Hoffman, Ordinary Ameri links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
DaveS| 10.26.09 @ 7:45PM
What was Newt thinking?????
FU*K OBAMA| 10.26.09 @ 8:35PM
I sent Doug Hoffman $10.00. It was all I could afford seeing how my hours have been cut, but I have not been laid off.
Win or loose, the GOP had better pay attention to the mess they have made in Washington and America. RINO's are the scourage of this party and an impediment to any true hope for a change. The Bush's, McCains, Romney's, Colins, Snowe, Spectors,Grahams and other RINO's can clearly thank themselves for bringing ruin on a once great party. Also: I WILL NEVER GIVE THE GOP ANOTHER RED CENT!
It was the best $10.00 bucks I have spent in a long time! I am going to start giving to Sarah Palin next.
Panhandler| 10.26.09 @ 11:03PM
I do hope Doug Hoffman can pull this off. This would send a message to the GOP that true consitutional conservatives are not going to support these "middle of the road" types like John McCain, Romney, or Gingrich. We need to show the WH and the rest of the libs that the Tea Party movement is made up of people who will be taking your offices in 2010! Go Doug!
P.S. This week's AP Poll...1. FLORIDA, 2. 'Bama...
Pingback| 10.26.09 @ 11:19PM
I'll take Doug Hoffman over Newt Gingrich any day | The Lonely Conservative links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Parmenter| 10.27.09 @ 1:11AM
Don't forget that A. G. Holder has a troll office in the Department of Justice, on the taxpayer dime, trolling about conservative blogs.
Pingback| 10.27.09 @ 12:11PM
Craig Newmark: More innovation toward better public service from Washington | Legal-S links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
samir| 10.27.09 @ 1:02PM
I'm not so sure getting endorsed by a white supremacist is a good thing.
Sad to see conservatism embrace racists like R.S. McCain.
Nick| 10.27.09 @ 3:20PM
I didn't know Scozzafava had been endorsed by a white supremacist.
Unless you're talking about the Margret Sanger award she received? Does that constitute an "endorsement" of Scozzafava? I guess it does. And Sanger was certainly a white supremacist.
Thanks for pointing this out, Samir.
As for your culumny against Mr. McCain, you must be delusional.
Nick| 10.27.09 @ 11:05PM
Oops! That should've been CALUMNY.
The a's and u's are starting to look alike!
samir| 10.27.09 @ 11:26PM
On the contrary, I'm pulling for Hoffman. I detest Scuzzywuzzy's effete lefter-than-Obama politics.
Hence my disappointment that Mr. Hoffman is being endorsed by a white supremacist like R.S. McCain. There's nothing we can do about it except speak our minds against white supremacy.
Pingback| 10.27.09 @ 1:09PM
REDSTATE reports Pawlenty follows in Palin Path of full support for Hoffman; Daily KO links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ruth| 10.27.09 @ 5:03PM
For ANY and ALL of you who support Hoffman far and wide - even if you can't vote for him, send him a contribution, however small. We're retired, living on a fixed income, but you can bet your butt we're sending small contributions wherever we can in races across the country to help get our country back!
Nick| 10.27.09 @ 9:55PM
Ruth,
Hi! Long time, no read!
Hope all is well with you and your family.
God Bless.
samir| 10.27.09 @ 9:09PM
I'm not so sure getting endorsed by a white supremacist is a good thing.
Joe Repeat| 10.27.09 @ 9:39PM
You are very unsure, it seems, Mr. Samir. I hope she will drop out of the race, so we can have a conservative in the office - someone who does not sort everyone out by race as the left does. (some call it "colorblind", but a good "colorblind).
samir| 10.27.09 @ 11:22PM
I was talking about R.S. McCain. I couldn't care less for Scuzzywuzzy.
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