Posted on 11/01/2009 9:16:27 PM PST by nickcarraway
Fearful that the party had almost no chance of winning the Nov. 3 New York special election after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava abruptly announced Saturday that she was dropping out, high-ranking national Democrats immediately began working to secure her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens, POLITICO has learned.
On Sunday afternoon, their vigorous efforts paid off as Scozzafava bucked her own party and issued a statement supporting Owens over Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, a coup for Democrats who recognized that their best remaining chance of winning the Republican-leaning seat on Tuesday was to swing disaffected Scozzafava supporters their way. By Sunday night, Scozzafava had taped her endorsement and it was being delivered via robo-call into targeted district households.
The story of how it went down began in Washington, where the White House and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quarterbacked the effort to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement.
According to several senior Democratic officials, Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat and DCCC official, was dispatched to meet face-to-face with Scozzafava in her upstate New York district within hours of her departure from the race to make the case on behalf of the national party. He carried the proxy of the White House and congressional Democrats.
Scozzafava, according to one account, was receptive to the entreaties after becoming a target of intense conservative opposition over the past month. A moderate to liberal assemblywoman who was backed by the national GOP establishment, her nomination had become a rallying point for conservative grassroots activists who argued that she was far too liberal for them to support.
“She’s devastated that these outside interests are trying to hijack her moderate wing of the party," said one New York Democrat who had spoken to Scozzafava.
Her support had all but collapsed over the last month; by the end of the week, national Republicans began hedging their bets on her campaign and signaling that they would welcome a Hoffman victory.
When some senior Democrats worried Scozzafava might be wavering about the endorsement, according to another account, the White House got Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in the state, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to place calls to the assemblywoman on Saturday evening to coax her into delivering it. Sen. Charles Schumer, who had been in touch with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Israel, also weighed in.
Two senior Democrats with ties to the White House praised Cuomo’s role in the operation, saying they were confident Scozzafava was on board after learning that she told Cuomo: "You're going to be the next governor of New York."
Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.
June O'Neill, until earlier this year the New York Democratic Party chair, played an even more important role in courting Scozzafava, according to one New York official, because they “go to the same social events—church bingo night and the high school dance.”
A fellow North Country resident, O'Neill is close to Scozzafava and her husband, Ron McDougall, a leading upstate New York union official who works closely with state Democrats.
McDougall sent an e-mail out Saturday night offering enthusiastic support for Owens’ candidacy.
On Sunday, Scozzafava released her own statement.
“It’s not in the cards for me to be your representative, but I strongly believe Bill [Owens] is the only candidate who can build upon [former Rep.] John McHugh's lasting legacy in the U.S. Congress,” she said.
“In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.”
Her statement, which focused on the importance of local interests like Fort Drum, piggybacked on Democratic attacks on Hoffman as an outsider to the district whose opposition to earmarks and federal spending would be damaging to the economically struggling region.
Republican House leaders later said they would secure an Armed Services Committee spot for Hoffman if he wins—a slot it previously pledged to Scozzafava.
The reaction from the state party to the Scozzafava endorsement was swift and unsparing.
“Dede Scozzafava’s endorsement today represents a betrayal of the people of the North Country and the people of her Party,” said Ed Cox, chairman of the New York GOP. “In contacting Scozzafava, the Obama White House has once again played its Chicago-style politics here in New York. The people of the 23rd District will not be fooled by any corrupt bargain.”
Hoffman’s campaign offered a similarly sharp response.
“This afternoon Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP,” read a Hoffman press release, titled, ‘Surprise Surprise: Dede is a Democrat.’
“The voters now know what Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens believe in—the liberal agenda of Nancy Pelosi.”
Following Scozzafava’s endorsement Sunday, a handful of upstate GOP Assembly colleagues announced they were lining up behind Hoffman.
“After being out of town, I have returned to learn that Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for Congress and has endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. This is a very disappointing development,” said Assemblyman Will Barclay in a statement. “In light of this development, I am putting my support behind Doug Hoffman.”
The Susan B. Anthony List, which has spent more than $125,000 in organizing a pro-Hoffman ground program in the district and in running radio ads, also touched on the betrayal theme.
“By her actions today Dede Scozzafava has confirmed why it was so important for conservatives and people who care about the GOP to get involved in this race,” said President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "When a GOP candidacy is not based on fundamental conservative values, the party and the principles are inevitably betrayed at critical moments.”
Even with Scozzafava's endorsement, however, Hoffman may now have enough momentum to consolidate the GOP vote in the historically Republican district to win Tuesday.
But senior Democratic officials who had all but given up on the contest Saturday felt that picking up Scozzafava at least gave them an opportunity.
Republican operatives tracking the race believe that Scozzafava's enthusiastic endorsement of Owens will carry weight with her longtime supporters in her Assembly district around Watertown, where her political standing remains high.
A Siena poll released Saturday showed Scozzafava still leading in her home base with 34 percent despite trailing well behind Hoffman and Owens districtwide. According to the poll, Owens led with 36 percent to Hoffman’s 35 percent. Scozzafava came in third with just 20 percent.
New York Republican consultant Brendan Quinn predicted the lion’s share of Scozzafava's support will now go to Owens and boost his numbers by five to eight percent on Tuesday.
“This move by the assemblywoman will make her the spoiler in this race and could deliver the election to Bill Owens.” said Quinn, a former state GOP executive director. “She’s joined the Democrats in trying to create the impression that anyone supporting Hoffman is a right-wing extremist, and that’s part of the White House message as well.”
Tom Davis, a former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, said he still believes the race is a toss-up but also expected Scozzafava supporters to swing toward Owens.
"This is not a Sarah Palin distict, and they tried to make it that way. In a 3-way race, you could have gotten 35-40 percent to win the seat, and now they need close to 50 percent," Davis said. "It’s clear in the Watertown part of the district that Hoffman is not the second choice."
Former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Tom Reynolds, who represented an upstate New York district before retiring in 2008, said Scozzafava's endorsement will have a limited impact beyond the voters she represented in the Assembly.
"This is not a small district, and this is not a congressperson doing this who was beaten in the primary,” he said. “With this race, Dede is well-known in the center in the district, but not as well known in Plattsburgh and Oswego.”
Duh! She is one!
Lie, lie, half-truth, lie, ...
To big to throw under the bus???
Sorry, Too big...
All that work and money and conniving, and they’re still going to get thumped.
Conservatives didn’t “hijack” anything. An independent party, with some forty years existence on the ballot in New York State [eclipsing the Liberal Party as #3], the Conservative Party nominated a candidate who represented their views. Supported by people who support and espouse a Conservative philosophy, that candidate proceeded to beat the tar out of Scozzafava.
And the last time I looked, Scozzafava was the Reublican candidateUNTIL she withdrew from the race.
I’ll lay odds she jumps to the NYS Dims within a month.
Consider it is not stupidity, but treason.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/114/20071023/hs.jpg
Janet Duprey - 31 years of local government & 21 years as county treasurer
Janet Duprey’s support of gay marriage
On the eve of her 40th wedding anniversary, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R-North Country) announced her support for marriage equality legislation
in her first term representing one of the most conservative parts of the state, Duprey became the fourth Assembly Republican to support marriage equality
“I am very pleased with this decision. I think Dede Scozzafava will make an excellent Congresswoman,” Clinton County Republican Party Chairwoman and fellow Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said.
“My only regret is that I will miss her in Albany.”
In the end, Scozzafava was unanimously chosen despite concerns that she might be too liberal for a Republican candidate.
“She is fiscally conservative, and I think this is an example of the Republican Party being progressive and open to everybody.”
Duprey said Scozzafava has a proven record for supporting less government and less taxes, and helping small businesses.
“I think those views fall under the template of Republican,” Duprey said.
******
The failure of Republican Dierdre “Dede” Scozzafava’s campaign for Congress is hitting Janet Duprey hard.
Duprey, the assemblywoman from Peru who is also the chairwoman of the Clinton County Republican Party, was instrumental in the selection of Scozzafava as the Republican candidate.
“I would still stand behind her as the best candidate, and the candidate with the best record and the best message,” a disappointed Duprey said Saturday.
Scozzafava had only 20 percent of the vote.
Many blamed Duprey, her assembly colleague, for engineering the selection of Scozzafava.
Duprey defended the selection saying every candidate had a fair chance.
“The process was open. We had four meetings and everyone had their vote, and it was close. I don’t see how it could have been more open,” she said.
“But Dede had the most support, and I think she was the best candidate.”
Duprey said the campaign waged against Scozzafava was vicious.
“She is a good person and we ought to be able to have an election where it is about the issues, but instead we get these vicious attacks and it makes me sick to my stomach,” Duprey said.
“I am just disappointed for Dede because not only was she the best candidate, she is my friend.”
http://www.pressrepublican.com/homepage/local_story_304214051.html
“I’ll lay odds she jumps to the NYS Dims within a month.z”
And if you can get anyone to take that bet you’ll likely win.
Hope she's stocked up on barf bags. What's comin Tuesday won't be pretty for lefties with "confused" political identities...
Janet L. Duprey was born in Plattsburgh, the daughter of Peter and Edna (Calkins) Lacy. She has been married to Elmer Duprey, retired Town of Peru Highway Superintendent, for 41 years.
How Did the GOP End Up With Scozzafava?
The answer lies in Scozzafava’s close friendship with fellow Assemblywoman and Clinton County Chairperson Janet Duprey. “Dede and Janet Duprey are soul mates when it comes to voting,” said Mike Long, chairman of the New York Conservative Party, in an interview with NewMajority. Going against the wishes of her county’s delegation, Duprey abruptly switched her vote to put her pal Dede over the top.
As the county chair for Clinton County, where 11% of the district’s Republicans live, Janet Duprey wielded power over 11% of the district’s ballots. Unfortunately for Duprey, Clinton County Republicans were dead set against the Scozzafava nomination.
In the first ballot of the candidate selection process, Scozzafava led the pack of three contenders with 45% of the ballots cast. Initially, Duprey consented to the wishes of her delegation and cast her vote for Paul Maroun, who was viewed as more conservative. In the second ballot, however, Assemblywoman Duprey abruptly changed her vote to Scozzafava, sealing Scozzafava’s nomination.
Duprey has since acknowledged that her delegation had wanted Maroun as their nominee, admitting that “the Clinton County committee members… voted for the candidate they supported. Paul Maroun received the majority of the votes.” Janet Duprey later justified her shift by saying that “it was clear that Dede was the winner… Everyone wants a winner.”
ACORN candidate Dede Scozzafava is so ugly, when she passes by a bathroom the toilet flushes.
ACORN candidate Dede Scozzafava is so ugly, when she was lying on the beach, the cat tried to bury her.
ACORN candidate Dede Scozzafava is so ugly, even the elephant man paid to see her.
ACORN candidate Dede Scozzafava is so ugly, when she was born, her mama saw the afterbirth and said “Twins.”
(hat tip to Saul Alinsky)
If Obama & Co could turn her so easily now that she’s withdrawnm just imagine how she’d have been if she were elected to Congress. Hopefully her days as an Assembleything are numbered as well.
How’s it goin’ Newt?
“...from the standpoint of her career I think this was a huge mistake on her part.”
It sure spells SORE LOSER. Maybe women don’t belong in politics after all. Crying, seeking short-sighted revenge. Pathetic.
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