Posted on 10/28/2009 1:38:49 PM PDT by rhema
A third-party candidate is surging in upstate New York, riding a swelling conservative distaste for liberal Republicans and, his supporters say, sending a message to the Republican Party.
New York’s 23rd congressional district winner will replace Republican John McHugh, President Obama’s appointed Secretary of the Army. The district should have easily gone to Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava but many conservatives, wary of Scozzafava’s support of same-sex marriage and her Margaret Sanger award from Planned Parenthood, have thrown their weight behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. In the last few weeks, he’s built national and grassroots support—and also has raked in cash.
Both social and fiscal conservatives have backed Hoffman, including American Values president Gary Bauer, the Club for Growth, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. This past weekend, former GOP Sen. Rick Santorum tapped Hoffman as his choice, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty following suit. Prominent Republicans Steve Forbes and Fred Thompson, the National Organization for Marriage, and the Concerned Women for America PAC have all backed him, too. In the New York Post’s endorsement of Hoffman, it called Scozzafava “the product of an obscenely corrupt political bargain by GOP bosses that sells out their party—and New Yorkers generally.”
Hoffman raised over $116,000 the day Palin endorsed him, while Scozzafava has lost financial momentum. In the latest Federal Election Commission report of donations over $1,000—filed every 48 hours—Democratic candidate Bill Owens has raised $73,100, Hoffman has collected $43,100, and Scozzafava has picked up only $2,000.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is now taking note, dubbing Hoffman the “darling of right wing Republicans” and blasting him as an out-of-touch millionaire with a waterfront island home, a classic car collection, and a plan that includes “tax breaks for the wealthy.”
An October 11-13 Siena College poll put Owens in the lead with 33 percent of the vote, Scozzafava at 29 percent, and Hoffman at 23 percent. A Club for Growth poll later found a small lead for Hoffman, and another conservative group—Minuteman PAC—also found Hoffman up by 5 points.
Former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has opposed the Hoffman movement, telling Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren that conservatives’ excitement about Hoffman is based “largely on misinformation” and that if Hoffman takes away enough votes to elect Owens, it will strengthen Speaker Nancy Pelosi instead of the conservative movement. He defended Scozzafava as “adequately conservative” for upstate New York, but he added that there is “no question” Scozzafava is liberal on social issues.
But conservative leaders like Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, see this as a test run for next year—an ultimatum to the GOP: “This has come at a particular tipping point in politics right now. On the one hand, Obama’s policies are worrying conservatives; on the other, you have “a Republican party that can’t see itself finding a candidate that . . . can counter those policies at a time when the country—and especially districts like this—are reacting strongly to Obama’s policies.”
Their purpose, said Dannenfelser, is “to stand up and say, ‘There is a line, Republican Party, that we will not cross, and in this race you have crossed it.’” She added, even if Owens wins, “it will be a message that the Republican Party need not do this again.”
According to Dannenfelser, this is the first time the Susan B. Anthony List has endorsed a third-party candidate: “I’ve never made a move like this but when you do it, you better mean it. If you’re gonna shoot a bear you’d better kill it.” So organization is spending an estimated $350,000 to support Hoffman, is sponsoring 800 radio spots, has hit its goal of 100 volunteers, and is pushing for 250 volunteers to distribute 4,000 yard signs, pass out 80,000 pieces of comparison literature, and man the 75 largest Republican precincts on Election Day.
This also is the first time that the Catholic Families for America PAC has endorsed a third-party candidate, said executive director Kevin Roberts. But he said it wasn’t an agonizing decision: “It was a no-brainer.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
GO DOUG GO!!!! GO DOUG GO!!!!!! GO DOUG GO!!!!!!!
I hope and pray Doug Hoffman wins! We need to teach the GOP a lesson: RINOs SHALL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED!!!!!!
He was SOOOOO effective in stopping Al Franken. I'm sure Hoffman is thrilled!
I’m proud of the Susan B. Anthony endorsement. MORE to come, folks...some Congress People considering bills going through legislature better be having their ear to the ground, listening for hoof beats, or they’re going to be in the Un-Employment lines asking for soup and beans..
Meanwhile, in California, an conservative Republican has a shot at flipping a seat from the Democrats, and the NRCC and RNC are completely ignoring him.
I am also contacting the NRCC to ask why they are supporting Scozzafava in the race in upstate New York, and why they are ignoring David Harmer in this close race in California’s 10th district. Here are the numbers if anyone else wants to call:
Info from the NRCC "contact us" web page: Contact the NRCC
Address:
320 First Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
General Email:
website@nrcc.org
Phone:
Phone: 202-479-7000
Also, perhaps those of us who donated to the RNC or RCCC should ask for our money back so we can support the conservative candidates of our choice.
| From the desk of cc2k: |
Candidates I support: Doug Hoffman for Congress, NY 23rd (PayPal), David Harmer for Congress, CA 10th (website for info). Please, spread the word about these important special elections on November 3, 209: New York’s 23rd congressional district and California’s 10th congressional district. |
This Californian voted for Hoffman with his pocketbook— HOW ABOUT YOU?!?!
...Hoffman trailed his Republican and Democratic opponents in the polls. Until, that is, Palin announced her support for the conservative New Yorker. Suddenly, Hoffman received a lot of free coverage and a lot of money, because Palin not only used her SarahPAC to donate to his campaign, she also called on her FaceBook fans to do the same. The result? Hoffman is now leading in the polls and he suddenly has more funds available than his Republican rival.
Once Palin threw her support behind Hoffman, other prominent Republicans and conservatives have done the same. Fox News host Glenn Beck endorsed Hoffman yesterday, as did one of the top favorites for the presidential nomination of the GOP in 2012, Governor Tim Pawlenty. The reason for the sudden support is crystal clear: once Palin endorsed Hoffman, other Republicans could also find the courage to revolt against the official leadership of their party.
And... remember... that seat comes up againin 2010. so what's the difference if Hoffman loses this race? We can show the RINOs that they will ALWAYS be a minority party unless they come home to conservative principles...
What are Harmer’s polling numbers?
Pawlenty is not a leader. He is a follower. Who wants that in the White House? We need leaders.
Sir Robin, Sir Robin... he hid and hid and hid and hid until the brave queen appeared, Sir Robin, Sir Robin...
It's heartening to see conservatives' support. I donated via the Susan B. Anthony site.
Not for Newt.
I suggest you make out a check to the Hoffman campaign and send it to the RNC along with a letter to let them know you will be supporting conservative candidates next November.
That appellation, actually, has already been bestowed on a far worthier Minnesota recipient: Mark Dayton: ". . .in October 2004 he shut down his office for almost a month, citing an unspecified terrorist threat."
What, pray tell, is in the water up there?
This Michigander did, too! In fact, I’m going to make one more donation to his campaign so he can step up his ads https://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/home.html
Good to hear. I share the pain of this newly discovered OPRESSED MINORITY!
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