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NY23: Dems Bringing in Big Money Against Hoffman

By Robert Stacy McCain on 10.30.09 @ 4:02PM

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.
With polls clearly showing liberal Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava in meltdown mode, the Democratic Party is now focusing its campaign efforts directly at Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the crucial upstate New York special election.

Democrats have reportedly bought $1 million in TV ads attacking Hoffman and supporting Democratic candidate Bill Owens. Hoffman campaign sources expect Owens to bring in hundreds of professional party operatives and labor-union campaigners to work in the 23rd District this weekend and continuing through Election Day, now just four days away.

The offices of the Clinton County Democratic Party here in Plattsburgh -- Owens' hometown -- were busy this afternoon, as young Democratic staffers were ready to begin a weekend of door-to-door canvassing operations. Staffers were preparing to distribute stacks of door-hanger GOTV cards that tout President Obama's endorsement of Owens, telling voters: "Those standing in the way of Change want you to say home on Tuesday -- don't let them win."

Meanwhile, a crew of reporters showed up at Duke's Diner on Tom Miller Road here in Plattsburgh where Hoffman had lunch with the city's Republican mayor, Don Kasprzak, who endorsed the Conservative Party candidate yesterday -- as did former New York Gov. George Pataki.

Asked about evidence of his campaign's gathering momentum, Hoffman replied with a smile: "We're ignoring that. We're still running like the underdog."

One indicator of how the 23rd District contest is increasingly viewed as a make-or-break referendum on the Obama administration's agenda is that Hoffman's lunch today at Duke's Diner was covered by two television crews and a correspondent for the London Times.

UPDATE: Photo of the Democratic "Change" door-hanger for Owens at my personal blog.

View all comments (28) | Leave a comment

BillF| 10.30.09 @ 4:40PM

The real battle in NY 23 has already been won; REAL conservatives have put the GOP on notice. And its interesting to see the number of "conservatives" that have been coming out of the woodwork of late in support of Hoffman. If Hoffman can eke out a win that's icing on the cake. Poor Mr Newt has sealed his fate, especially after what Pataki said in contradiction of Newt, and I just saw Mike Huckabee do a good job on FOX of cutting himself out for 2012 by failing to take an opportunity to endorse Hoffman because he doesn't "go against the party." The Dems should be careful how they spend their money; they're going to need it.

Peg C.| 10.31.09 @ 6:31AM

BillF, word is that Huck wouldn't endorse Hoffman because Fred Thompson did. Huck is still petty and small over Fred's raking of him during the campaign. I won't vote for Huck if he's the only Republican on the planet come 2012.

Elon Baker| 11.1.09 @ 12:16AM

It's not smart to let rumors like that tarnish a viable, conservative candidate. I wish Huck had endorsed Hoffman, and Fred certainly was courageous on this one, but there are some arguably good reasons for Huck to be hesitant.

First off, much of the media, inaccurately, said Dede was moderate, but socially liberal. Huck already has to battle against the notion of being very popular with social conservatives, with less popularity among economic conservatives, and is an "outsider" to most experienced Republicans .

If he wants to broaden his appeal, he might not want the media to keep him typecast in the same vein, which a controversial endorsement would do.

I wish he had, but lets not jump to conclusions about his motivation.

Pete| 10.30.09 @ 6:05PM

Maybe you should mention the people coming across the lake from Vermont to help out Hoffman, also. My daughter(25) is one of them and this is her first time working in a campaign like this. I've seen the attack ads and they reek of a losing candidate. what a pack of lies.

Dan Maloney| 10.30.09 @ 10:34PM

You're doing great work, Robert!
Keep it rolling!

A Berman| 10.30.09 @ 11:30PM

It must be more than NY-23 being a referendum. A conservative congressional district doesn't merit all this attention from the Democrats just because they want it. What they *really* want is to bury Doug Hoffman. It's a Democratic strategy to destroy up-an-comers. Tom Gill perfected it to push gay marriage nationwide by getting rid of conservatives in local races. My guess is that they see Doug Hoffman as someone who could eventually run for Senate, Governor, or President.

Anonymous| 10.31.09 @ 12:35AM

Hey, Democrats, you have your own party, leave ours alone!

Pat Patterson| 10.31.09 @ 12:46AM

The reporter from the London Times wasn't necessarily covering Hoffman because of the politics but was trying to find out how he hid his fangs during the daylight and were all his supporters called Bubba.

Rob| 10.31.09 @ 4:10AM

Suggest you read The Times of London before you comment.
You may be confusing it with the NY Times.
The Times of London consistently covers US politics with a far more centrist and analytical direction than any major US publication.

Steve S| 10.31.09 @ 12:51AM

Huckabee supported Hoffman. He just couldn't say it because he had a speaking engagement coming up with the Conservative Party and he didn't want it to look like he had alterior motives. While he made no endorsement, he did say he was not a fan of Scozzafava.

BackToBasics| 11.1.09 @ 11:28PM

Huckabee is an open-borders, Bush-like Republican with a much smoother delivery. The Repub establishment will back him but he will never get my vote.

Don't be fooled by Huck or his supporters. Look how Steve S feels the need to quickly defend him "establishment-style" with 3 posts.

Steve S| 10.31.09 @ 12:51AM

CHRI$ DODD| 10.31.09 @ 1:23AM

Bringing in Joe Biden this weekend can only help.

Marc Malone| 10.31.09 @ 1:26AM

Really interesting race. If he wins... wow! I mean, the Dems are pulling out all the stops. The DNC gets heavily involved in every race. They bring in the Unions. They bring in the money. They bring in the professionals. They attack, attack, attack!

The opposition is almost all grass roots. Hoffman has no Party behind him. He has no massive organization behind him and no deep pockets. He's kinda dorky. So unpolished. All he has is Conservatism and the fact that he is a fed-up private Citizen. (And, oh, yeah, Kingmaker Sarah Palin's endorsement! But really, what does that mean, besides a $100k overnight?) My money's on him.

tom| 10.31.09 @ 1:40AM

Let the Democrats waste their money.

I suspect that I'll probably get a better return on my $50.00 donation to Hoffman that the Democrats will get on their million for Owens.

Consider some facts:

The 23rd congressional district is a majority GOP district.

Independents already support Hoffman by a huge majority, according to polls...and Hoffman has built up incredible momentum with only 4 days till the election.

If you're a Republican in the 23rd..and its become obvious that a vote for Scozzafava is a waste of your vote..as it has..who are you going to vote for..the conservative Republican running on the Conservative Party ticket or the liberal Democrat?

Sounds to me like the definition of a "no-brainer".

Peg C.| 10.31.09 @ 6:35AM

The Dems are pulling out all the stops because it is critical they delegitimize and marginalize the tea party movement NOW. Hoffman is as much a candidate of us tea partiers as anyone could be. If he wins, the boost and momentum he gives us going into 2010 cannot be overstated. The true hat trick would be McDonnell, Hoffman and Christie. 2 of these 3 are too close to call and Dems are like rabid dogs trying to prevent a Republican (in 2 of 3, true conservative) sweep next week.

These races are critical to both sides.

Sean| 10.31.09 @ 7:38AM

The Democrats are terrified of a Hoffman win because such a win would be legitimate change. No more of this two-party dance. It would show that American voters honestly want change, and not the change Obama's giving us.

jb| 10.31.09 @ 7:46AM

What's likely to happen is a replay of another "Ross Perot", vote splitter; with the Dems walking away with the prize.

Pete| 10.31.09 @ 5:18PM

I doubt it. Scozzafava has dropped out making it a very clear choice for the voters there. They can vote for a real republican or go for a liberal trial lawyer.

John - TMF| 10.31.09 @ 12:16PM

As reported on Drudge, and noted over at NRO, Scozzafava has suspended her campaign.

It looks like the Hated RNC, and the much maligned Michael Steele, has gotten an appropriate result. No first hand knowledge, mind you, I just know how the politics game works out.

BTW - for those movement Conservatives who keep throwing poo at the RNC and Republicans in general.

The GOP is a voluntary organization. It has rules of order and party plans that are FEDERALIST in nature. This means that the Republican National Committee is rule bound to support the candidates chosen by the STATE/COUNTY/LOCAL parties.

The National party does not by rule or custom dictate choices to the local folks. For the unenlightened this is called "Federalism" and is a "principle" espoused by the GOP as a whole.

Scozzafava was chosen by the 23 districts GOP method of choosing a run-off candidate. Well perhaps the stink of how that choice was made finally wafted up the line. Perhaps someone read the polls that said Scozzafava was going to come in a poor third in a three way race. Perhaps... the local party people said... 'OOPS... you need to bow out so we can support Hoffman'. Maybe Steele finally got a phone call in somewhere and talked some sense to someone.

MAYBE... Perhaps... could be...

But what has happened, is that Scozzafava has bowed out without endorsing anyone. Which means Movement Folks need to get off the stick and prove that they are the WINNING factor in such races, not the LOSING factor.

Go Hoffman!!! Good luck. It's a horse race now.

r/The Mighty Fahvaag

Pete| 10.31.09 @ 5:22PM

Yeah, right. Maybe that's why you got your heads handed to you last election. You put party loyalty above what's good for the nation. Most of us conservatives are independents and we've had it with GOP flaks just as much as we have had with the leftists democrats. Now do you get the picture???

MIMI| 10.31.09 @ 12:36PM

WELL,WELL OUR MR. SMITH WILL GO TO WASHINGTON!!!!! only in AMERICA. Go, Mr. Hoffman, our struggle has just begun . TAKE THE LAND OF THE FREE BACK!

SandyC| 10.31.09 @ 8:39PM

Mimi- I agree with what you say, but, please stop shouting with your caps lock. It really is not helpful.

equitus| 10.31.09 @ 9:33PM

Don't forget about the California-10 special election the same day to replace Tauscher (D).

It's my district and there's a real electricity here that the Republican Harmer might pull of a big upset. Talk about a political earthquake, should that happen! Polls have him in striking distance, and the local Republicans are motivated to turn out.

By the way, the RNC has all but ignored it and put virtually no money into it.

tj| 11.1.09 @ 11:00AM

That's whyI just sent Harmer a BIG dose of funds... lets go people... get the stink out of Washington.. unfortunately I live in Northern Virginia and the smell here just gets worse...

Bob| 10.31.09 @ 9:33PM

Sandy C, writing in caps is not shouting, unless you can hear the printed page. Do you hear it? This is some moron convention that a bunch of doofusses dreamt up for internet etiquette. What do you think Thomas Paine would say about capital letters for God's sakes. "oh, you're rufflling my skirt with your caps lock, I think I'm going to cry and play with my dolls now." "The revolution? Not now, our fonts aren't synchronized and our verbs may misfire. Oh, I just can't take it anymore. I agree but where are the typing police when you need them. " "Calling the Obama typing police Czar....help, help help!!!!" EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!" HUckabee, Romney and Newt can bite it. Good for Fred THompson and Sarah Palin for President in 2012. Palin is the one with the guts and the right ideas and the straight forward Reagan message.

MCW| 11.2.09 @ 10:45AM

Hoffman has been my choice from the start-Scuzzy's nomination was due to what became a tainted weighted vote...some heads should roll. Scuzzy's political pursuit should hopefully end as should Duprey, Clinton County Republican Committee Chairman; despicable and makes all of us in the 23rd district look like morons. Luckily the majority rallied against the RINO and she bowed out. Good luck Doug Hoffman, behind you 100%.