Free Republic

The NRCC provided a polling memo that showed Doheny ahead of Owens 51 percent to 37 percent. The poll, however, was conducted Sept 22- 23, before conservative Doug Hoffman suspended his campaign this week. Hoffman, who was running on the Conservative Party ballot line, threatened to draw significant support away from Doheny in what is a Republican leaning district. While Hoffman is no longer actively campaigning, his name will still appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Earlier this morning Doug Hoffman announced he was dropping out of the race and is supporting my candidacy for Congress to take back the 23rd. I am deeply appreciative of Doug’s support. Now, more than ever, Republicans, Conservatives and independents are united in our efforts to defeat Bill Owens in November. Thank you for all your support. Please read a copy of the article that appeared in this morning’s Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Hoffman out of Congress race SARANAC LAKE — Doug Hoffman has dropped out of the race to represent New York’s 23rd Congressional District. Hoffman’s name will still appear...

Tea party may stop backing Hoffman 23RD DISTRICT RACE: Upstate group may now support Doheny By JUDE SEYMOUR TIMES STAFF WRITER SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 One hundred tea partiers made Douglas L. Hoffman's Republican candidacy possible. Now 1,000 are considering whether their group should help get his opponent elected in the 23rd Congressional District. Members of the Upstate New York Tea Party, Plattsburgh, overwhelmingly supported Mr. Hoffman over fellow Republican Matthew A. Doheny during a May poll. But with Mr. Doheny holding a 582-vote lead with 1,969 absentee ballots to be counted in the GOP primary, Chairman Mark L. Barie...

Businessman Matt Doheny's GOP primary victory Tuesday night sets Republicans up for a case of déjà vu in upstate New York's 23rd district. Doheny led accountant Doug Hoffman 53 percent to 47 percent when the race was called with just over 93 percent reporting. But Hoffman holds the Conservative Party line and has promised to campaign through November. That would create the same scenario that helped Rep. Bill Owens (D) win last year's special election against Hoffman and Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

Since Doug Hoffman's electrifying campaign in last fall's wild three-way special election in upstate New York, other candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the GOP nomination for the seat now held by Democrat Rep. Bill Owens. Among those candidates is Matt Doheny. Jude Seymour of the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times reports that Conservative Party chairman Mike Long says he's committed to supporting Hoffman this fall... To grasp the problem now facing the GOP in NY-23 requires an understanding of New York's multi-party system. In addition to the Democratic and Republican parties, several other minor parties have ballot...

Dede Scozzafava's friends have another bad day ... Doug Hoffman 2010 going strong in NY23! Yep, even the north country New York GOP has good news for us. Happy St. Patrick's Day. "Mr. Barclay was the most outspoken of the potential candidates during his brief flirtation with the seat, with Mr. Owens and Mr. Hoffman being his two main targets for criticism." - Watertown Daily News

Republican leaders in New York have chosen state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their nominee for the special election to replace Army Secretary-designate John McHugh (R-N.Y.). County chairmen for the 23rd district made the selection on Wednesday. The chairmen choose their nominee in lieu of a primary process for special elections in the Empire State. “I congratulate Dede Scozzafava for receiving the nomination to represent our party and make the case for tax relief, economic development and opportunity,” state party chairman Joseph Mondello said. “We desperately need her voice to oppose the Democrats’ plans to stifle our economy, tax business out...

Several state lawmakers said today they are considering a run for Rep. John McHugh’s seat after he was tapped Tuesday by President Obama as secretary to the Army. On the Democratic side, Sen. Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, appears to the party’s top potential candidate, and he said he will consider it. “We haven’t ruled anything out,” Aubertine said, adding he will have to talk to his family. Asked if he’s concerned that a move to Congress would leave the Democratic majority in the Senate vulnerable since he represents a heavily Republican district, he said, “I’m concerned about my...