Never mind.
Posted on 10/16/2009 12:34:03 PM PDT by markomalley
Republican heavy hitters are stepping up for the party’s New York special election candidate, after a poll this week showed the GOP in danger of losing that House seat.
On Friday, former House Speaker and Republican icon Newt Gingrich announced his endorsement of New York Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who is trailing Democrat Bill Owens in a tight three-way race to succeed nine-term GOP Rep. John M. McHugh .
McHugh vacated the seat to become secretary of the Army.
The Republican National Committee also confirmed Friday that it was making a six-figure transfer to the National Republican Campaign Committee to help in that race.
The NRCC has already spent nearly half a million dollars on advertising and other independent expenditures. And with the Scozzafava campaign on television only sparingly — reportedly because of slow fundraising — it has become the main source of advertising for the Republicans at this point.
The RNC is also giving $85,000 to the state party, the maximum allowed for a coordinated campaign, and has two staffers on the ground in the district.
In a letter to supporters, Gingrich called the Nov. 3 special election “an important test” for the party in advance of the 2010 mid-term election. Scozzafava is “Our best chance to put responsible and principled leaders in Washington,” he said.
Gingrich, who also voiced his support for Scozzafava at a GOP event last week in New York City, listed off a number of the candidate’s conservative credential, including her endorsement by the National Rifle Association, the fact that she signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayers’ Protection Pledge and her opposition to the Democrat’s health care overhaul proposal.
Gingrich did not mention it, but his appeal was clearly targeted at those Republican voters leaning towards voting for accountant Doug Hoffman, who is running on the Conservative Party line.
Hoffman has capitalized on the backlash among local and national conservative groups, who have strongly objected to her centrist record in the Assembly. She voted in support of gay marriage and of the 2008-09 state budget pushed by Democratic Govs. Eliot Spitzer and David A. Paterson , and favors some abortion rights.
Conservative advocacy groups including the Club for Growth, Citizens United and New York State Right to Life PAC are all backing Hoffman.
In a Siena College poll released Thursday, Hoffman received 23 percent of the vote, including significant portions of the independent and GOP electorate.
Hoffman’s performance helped Owens pull ahead of Scozzafava by a statistically significant four point margin, after trailing her by seven percentage points two weeks ago.
The GOP hope to convince conservative voters that a vote for Hoffman is a vote for the Democrats.
Yeah, sure thing...
What lesson will they learn when they lose?
Newt needs to go have another timeout on the bench with Pelosi.
Actually, a vote for Hoffman is a vote for conservatism.
“after a poll this week showed the GOP in danger of losing that House seat.”
Poll? What poll? I was under the impression that this was a very safe seat.
Nice to dream of a third party candidate - but it IS a vote taken away from our side and thus, given to the rats.
That's just math - and math don't lie.
“Scozzafava is “Our best chance to put responsible and principled leaders in Washington,” he said.”
Yes, Newt, but we want leaders who share our principles.
I think the Republicans haven’t woken up yet on how precarious their position is. They cannot win by alienating their base, as they’ve done. It won’t work.
We could accept some rinos in districts that would never elect a conservative - IF the party was committed to our values. If not, we don’t want to do it and the Republican Party leadership itself will continue to lose.
Given that they have yet to wake up, I see a second term for ObiOne with the Republican Party in the wilderness for at least 8 long years.
But they don’t get it.
ampu
Never mind.
I wonder if Gingrich will still support her when she loses and switches to the Democrat Party?
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/10/scozzafava_to_switch_parties_u_1.asp
Folks like Newt are half the problem.
already posted already in breaking news.
Vote for Hoffman is a vote on principles. It be a good thing methinks. Stop RINO’S wherever they are found.
No kidding -- it's about as old & worn out as the "anti-Obama = racism" excuse is, ain't it? HOFF MAN ALL THE WAY!
Newt needs to retire his mouth.
They will learn that Democrats are unbeatable because the GOP is too far to the right.
lol
What an amazing blow-hard my former congressman has become.
I would just as soon listen to rap music as to hear this idiot expound on anything.
Please Newt, go mute.
our side??
Dede is farther to the left than the Democrat!
She is supported by the unions and ACORN and every other leftwing group.
Newt is wrong.
I’ve been cursed for the last few months on this site for saying Newt is a loser. I think he forgot 1994 was a conservative movement not a moderate one.
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