Yeah, the Doug Hoffman thing is one of the most over rated over played issues in a long time. Your explanation was correct - never mind that Hoffman is a fraud himself also. But compared to Dee Dee, who is awful, he became a hero and folks never realized what a fraud he really was.
Newt should have just steered clear. Then again, on issues like this, everyone wants Newts opinion and always have. No one has ever cared what RS or Mitt thought about anything like this.
Dede was an obscure NY State Rep for 10 years. Newt didn't know her or her record from Adam (in general, probably a good reason to "steer clear") but he was apprised that Hoffman was ineligible in the district and if he won, the election would be challenged and the seat [eventually] would go to the Democrat Bill Owen, so that was not an option... and in any case, the 2010 primary was going to start and GOP voters could choose someone else for the seat within months while, in the meantime, Republican House would have one more (R) on some issues.
Yeah, the Doug Hoffman thing is one of the most over rated over played issues in a long time.
Constantly amazed how people casually throw "Dede Scozzafava" around as if it is be-all and end-all (even if there was any credence to it), while the same people excuse Santorum's endorsement of Specter (whose record and character everyone knew) on "strategic" grounds, as if Republicans, with the majority in the Senate, couldn't vote in good SC Justices without Arlen Specter.
Boggles the mind.