A few weeks ago nobody had ever heard about Dede Scozzafava. And then Newt Gingrich endorsed her for the House seat (NY-23) for which she was already endorsed by the local Republican Party.
But then Sarah Palin, who Katie Couric recently referred to as a “sideshow” on the “fringe” of the party, endorsed a little known third party conservative candidate.
And then everything changed. Hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into conservative Doug Hoffman’s coffers. National pundits focused their gaze on this New York district. Hoffman shot up in the polls despite the NRCC and RNC backing Scozzafava.
And now today Hot Air reports:
Just confirmed that Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has quit the race. Speaking to supporters, Scozzafava broke down in tears…
Scozzafava, the hand-picked choice of the New York state GOP in the key 23rd District special election, reportedly will throw her support to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.
That deserves a big fat wow from anyone who cares about politics.
The media hasn’t played this up mainly because they’d rather cover what that nincompoop Levi Johnston has to say rather than the fact that Palin, proving herself to be a true maverick endorsed a third party candidate who just knocked out the Republican.
Palin has now set herself up as something different than a powerful Republican. She may have established herself as a principled conservative. Needless to say, the Republican party will not be happy. Nor will the media.
Palin’s upcoming media tour to sell her book will be a very big deal when it comes to convincing many people she’s someone to be taken seriously. But what just occured in New York, while ignored by much of the media, may be seen in retrospect as the beginning of something huge.
I’m excited and nervous about it.
November 1, 2009 at 4:23 am
I am very, very hopeful at this– maybe we'll end up with pols who differ in more than the letter behind their names and their campaign speeches, eh?
November 1, 2009 at 5:38 am
If Hoffman wins it will be the shot across the bow (sp?) of the RINO's. The message will be loud and clear – we don't care about the little letter after your name – we only care about what you say and do!!
November 1, 2009 at 5:41 am
(yes, bow)
November 1, 2009 at 6:32 am
Good girl! She really is one of my own heart. God bless her.
Matt
November 1, 2009 at 10:55 am
It's getting very interesting around these United States.
November 1, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I wouldn't place the victory all on Sarah. Talk radio, especially Mark Levin were pushing Hoffman. But she is certainly becoming a leader and willing not to stick to the GOP game plan which I am quite thankful for. She could certainly lead the way for the conservative revolt fed up with the party pushing less than conservatives.
November 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Please, everyone, watch who is endorsing Hoffman as a conservative litmus test: the likes of Tim Pawlenty and Jim DeMint. Who won't weigh in? Romney.
Also, I hope conservative republicans have STOPPED funding the RNC machine that keeps churning out ultra-liberal republicans. Research individual candidates that pass muster and fund them DIRECTLY. Mark all solicitations from the RNC with your decided opinions about Newt and his fail whales and send them back, postage paid.
November 2, 2009 at 1:34 am
Hooray!!! I don't really care if the Stupid Party isn't happy about the whole Scozzafava thing. Sarah Palin and others who put principles before party loyalty have gone up a few notches in my book, and putzes like Gingrich . . . well, he can go out with the dirty bathwater, for all I care. Good riddance to any politicians who are Catholic only when it doesn't interfere with their vision for the Republican (or Democratic) party–or for the country.
November 2, 2009 at 3:07 am
If this "conservative party" is closest to Catholic moral and social teaching, then that's the way I will vote for now on. And double figs to the "Big Two".
November 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I give it a big fat wow. And by the way, Hoffman doesn't have to win for this to be a shot across the GOP's bow. They're already on notice. Look at the stream of sheepish naysayers now climbing on board with Hoffman — even Newt himself changed his endorsement. Palin is becoming my personal hero — whether she ever runs for office again or not, she clearly wields enormous power, and doesn't need a political platform or media access to do it. Just a friggin' laptop and her Facebook page! Hilarious!
November 2, 2009 at 8:05 pm
This Could Be the start of Something BIG!!!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of those "we need to govern from the center" Republicrats
LEARNED something form this race???
November 3, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Funny how the left keeps trotting out "Sideshow Fringe Celebrities" to promote their various agenda items, and then uses the term "Sideshow Fringe Celebrity" as an ad hominem defense against a message.
Leftists…(rolls eyes – again)