Posted on 09/23/2010 6:27:40 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
However, the split among Republicans and Conservatives last year was seen as a major factor in Owens’s win, which marked the first time a Democrat had won the seat since 1852.
‘OLD DREAM’
Some fear that Hoffman’s intention to stay in the race now will cause another split and give Owens victory again.
“Personally, I am very disappointed in Doug Hoffman’s decision,” Mark L. Barie, chairman of the Upstate New York Tea Party, said today.
UNYTEA had endorsed Hoffman in the Republican primary, but members are being polled to see what their next move will be.
“I thought it would be best, not only for the 23rd District but for the country and the Tea Party, if he (Hoffman) stopped his campaign,” Barie said.
“He has no money, he has no campaign, and I think he is living an old dream from last year, and it is not going to happen again.”
Clinton County Republican Party Chairman Donald Lee also said Hoffman should drop out.
“I would issue a call for him (Hoffman) to drop out right now. It’s the only ethical thing to do,” Lee said.
(Excerpt) Read more at pressrepublican.com ...
This is one case where the losing Republican definitely helps the DemocRAT. If Doug Hoffman refuses to withdraw, he should be ingored by Republicans and conservatives from this point forward.
I had a similar concern regarding O'Donnell, but I see that she's actually a good campaigner.
Hard to believe the elections are barely more than a month away. Wow.... Where did the year go?? .....
Hoffman never really recovered from the damage ALG’s Dan Tripp did to him last time around. Tripp’s out-of-control rages and divisive behavior destroyed Hoffman’s momentum and assured the poor guy could never mend his fences. Tragic situation. If Tripp shows up in Delaware, COD ought to throw a curse on him and turn him into a sober frog.
Hopefully, on November 2, we’ll be partying hearty as we ask that question. There will be a lot of work to do after the celebrating is over.
What say you about these developments? I know you were rooting for Hoffman.
Hoffman proves he is as stupid as he always seemed.
Yes, this is the type of thing of which I was thinking when I posted this about conservatives encouraging Castle’s potential write-in bid:
“Even if this could actually improve the GOP odds of winning in this particular instance, I do not think it is a good idea *ever* to encourage primary losers to run as write-ins. We hold primaries for a reason, and if RINOs start pulling Murkowskis every time they lose a primary we’ll end up with the RINOs holding us hostage (”vote for the RINO in the primary or he’ll run as a write-in and split the Republican vote”). We can’t lose the forest for the trees here.”
In this case, Hoffman isn’t a RINO—he’s actually more conservative than Doheny, the GOP primary winner (and, FYI, I supported him over Doheny)—but if Republicans in the district chose Doheny over him in a fair primary (in which Hoffman actually outspent Doheny, BTW), he should respect the district’s Republican voters and not make a run that will only result in the Democrat getting reelected. Hoffman would, in a way, become Dede Scozzafava.
The person running as the Republican isn’t a conservative on every issue but is more conservative then the one they tried to run last time. That person was also selected fairly.
Hoffman won’t receive support from conservatives this time.
All Republican candidates need to sign a legally binding “sore loser” agreement stating that if they lose their primary, they will not seek a third party or write in campaign. This crap needs to stop.
Hoffman should sit down and shut up.
In 2008, an insurgency run against a left-wing “Republican” was needed.
In 2010, an insurgency run against a reasonably conservative Republican is not.
It’s times like this that third parties definitely show their value for getting liberal Democrats elected.
“This is what an unrealistic big hope and dream do to you. He became a conservative celebrity despite the fact he was not a good campaigner. People supported him not because they liked him, but simply because he was not Scozzafava.
I had a similar concern regarding O’Donnell, but I see that she’s actually a good campaigner. “
But alas, the situation is more alike than different. O’Donnell may be more personable, but she’s way down in the polls and not getting closer at this point. Even Gillibrand’s opponent is closer pollwise now.
We need good mainstream conservatives who are good candidates, not the difficult choice between long-shot inexperienced/flawed conservatives and careerist RINOs.
I fully supported Hoffman last year, but I can’t believe he’s doing this. I understand the GOP candidate may not be “pure”, but in this case he is a LOT better than the demoncrat, Owens. Last year, that could not be said of Dede. Also, Dede did not win a primary vote. She was selected. Hoffman got beat fair and square, regardless of how much he was outspent by. You can’t run a campaign on pennies and prayers and then complain you were outspent by the victor. Last year Hoffman got a lot of support from Palin, the Tea Party, and others. This year, he will be on his own. He will absolutely come in 3rd place (or worse) if he does really run. He had a real chance to win last year. This year, he doesn’t. Last year he could say it doesn’t matter if Dede or Owens win, they are both the same. He can’t say that this year. He did the righteous thing last year by running. This time, he needs to do the righteous thing and NOT run.
Hoffman: EGOManiac
Good. The Democrat and the Republican think it’s okay to kill babies.
“If Doug Hoffman refuses to withdraw, he should be ingored by Republicans and conservatives from this point forward.”
If the Repubs take the congress, Hoffman’s district will not get back what they send to Washington. And the Republican party will let the people know.
I’m not thrilled with this. I supported Hoffman in the primary. But Matt Doheny will support some pro-life legislation and pro-lifers will make big gains elsewhere.
most of us were doing more than rooting. Campaigning.
Doheny ran a nasty, scorched earth campaign against Hoffman. So as he tries to consolidate GOP support around himself, he should not expect much support from Hoffman supporters.
Who did Doheny vote for last NOV between Owens and Hoffman? There is your answer.
Whoever wins this seat and holds it through redistricting will keep it for a long time. The fact that it is a GOP seat ... combined with imminent redistricting (with NY losing 2 seats) explains why nobody is particularly concerned with Owens. That is why the Dedes & Doheny’s of the district supported Owens last NOV.
The mad scramble up there will continue in the new districts in ‘12.
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