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Via National Journal:
That financial picture has contributed to the belief among Democratic and Republican operatives close to the special election that it may now be a contest between Owens and a hard-charging Hoffman, with the Republican nominee flagging. "Dede Scozzafava has become the spoiler in this race," said Hoffman's senior communications advisor, Rob Ryan. "For the good of her career and the GOP, she should drop out."Perhaps the NRCC should take a look at Scozzafava, and then another look at Nancy Pelosi's "far-left, radical agenda." I think they'll find more similarities than they let on. And I'm certainly not the only disgruntled conservative who feels this way.
Don't be on that happening. "[Conservative] Party bosses in New York have been sold a bill of goods in the form of Doug Hoffman's deceptive smoke-and-mirrors campaign, but fortunately they aren't the ones deciding this election," said Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the NRCC, which has produced Web ads attacking Hoffman's conservative bona fides. "We will continue to remind New Yorkers that a vote for Hoffman or Bill Owens is a vote for Nancy Pelosi and her far-left, radical agenda."
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As Jillian noted today, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Steve Forbes and numerous conservative organizations have all pledged support for Hoffman's campaign. I've learned tonight that more GOP heavyweights have signed-on to support Hoffman's run. In addition to Palin, Beck and Forbes, former Pensylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson have all broken ranks with the GOP. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty also hinted Friday that he might be the next to announce his support for Hoffman.
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Republican strategist and former White House aide Mary Matalin also stated that Hoffman's endorsers "speak for all of us who came to the party in support of the fundamental/constitutional principles it represented. We can disagree or compromise on marginal issues, but not freedom-quashing, government-grasping ones, like tax increases, anti-democratic card check, etc. Holding on to a seat won on those principles is worse than losing it," she said.
In the 24 hours since Palin announced her support the Hoffman campaign has reported collecting more than $100,000 in donations, but still faces an uphill fundraising battle in these final days of the campaign.
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich warns that breaking from the party could set a dangerous precedent going into the 2010 midterm elections. I couldn't agree more with Gingrich--the race in NY-23 and the continuing split in the Republican Party will have consequences, but I think its a risk most of us are willing to take in order to get our Party and the country back on the right road.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for action from a couple of other top-ranking GOP members. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will be speaking next week to a Conservative Party dinner in upstate New York, but has yet to weigh in with any sort of endorsement. And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's camp reports that he is "following the race," but doesn't have "any news to announce."
Stand firm and stay tuned...
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