November 2, 2009
Posted: November 2nd, 2009 04:48 PM ET

From

(CNN) – Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman told CNN on Monday that battle over the congressional seat in New York's 23rd district that led to the withdrawal of the Republican candidate isn't evidence of a split within the GOP.

Hoffman called Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee who dropped out of the race over the weekend, an "ultra-liberal" - but denied the GOP is at war with itself, or that the race offer a glimpse what's to come in next fall's midterm elections.

There is room for moderates in the GOP, said Hoffman. "I think this was a unique situation where the candidate happened to be more Democrat than Republican," he told CNN's Mary Snow and Shirley Zilberstein. "And basically, I was fighting to stand up for the values and ideals of the Republican Party."

Before Scozzafava dropped out, Republicans were split between her and Hoffman, allowing Democrat Bill Owens to take the lead in this reliably-Republican district. Scozzafava is now backing Owens - a decision that Hoffman said "surprised" him, but shows that he's always been the "real Republican" in the race.

"Well, my candidacy has been for fighting for the soul of the Republican Party," Hoffman said. "I think the events of the last two days have shown that I have been the real Republican in this race, the real common sense conservative Ronald Reagan Republican."

Earlier in the day, Vice President Joe Biden suggested that conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh "handpick[ed]" Hoffman to run. Hoffman called that notion "ridiculous": "I've never spoken to Rush Limbaugh so I don't know where he's getting that information from."

Filed under: Doug Hoffman • GOP • NY-23


T'SAH from Virginia   November 2nd, 2009 9:43 pm ET

YES you are at war with yourself and the FAR RIGHT will lose!!! HOFFMAN represents the far right and if he gets enough votes to WIN – then the entire county thinks like PALIN, LIMBAUGH and the rest of the HOODLUMS!!! This says NOTHING for 2010 and 2012!!!

I bet Hoffman would LOSE – and this still says NOTHING about the REPUBLICAN'TS!!!

Check Yourself   November 2nd, 2009 5:57 pm ET

Unbelievable! Biden LIES, and tries to promote Owens by FEAR in the last minutes of the campaign...

...And nobody in the media calls him out!!!

cm   November 2nd, 2009 5:42 pm ET

Just enough of a repub in Washington to say the all favorite response NAY. Wise up folks this is a special election with a bunch of far right wingnuts in an egotisical frenzy. It is a statement and should be especially to Independents and Republicans that we do not want moderates. To let people control your mind like this; you have lost your ability for rational thinking. Get off of your gloats; listen people in this district have verbalized this is not a national issue but a district issue. Only the Obama haters want to make these elections national to feel like they will gain control. To start to feel victory before the end many of a wars have been lost. This is only 09 with a a lot of 2010 elections to battle. Now we look forward to bloodier battles than the 2008 elections. People do not want to listen but to only what they want to hear and believe. If people want to contine to listen to SP, Rush and Beck and make them the faces of the GOP that is your priviledgebe prepared for the consquences.

Ken   November 2nd, 2009 5:41 pm ET

Not a clue about any issue but he can spew Patriotism ( with a capital P)!! Well, that worked to get the U.S. into Iraq. I wonder what good it will do here?

duke   November 2nd, 2009 5:32 pm ET

hoffman will be stooge for right wingnuts of russell limbaugh and sorry palin.he will only do or say what they tell him .

LacrosseMom   November 2nd, 2009 5:30 pm ET

NY-23 KNOWS what EIGHT years of a Republican president has done to our country!

Let's send a clear message to the GOP tell them that their politics of....

Hate, lies, fear & division are rejected again!

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 5:26 pm ET

Hoffman looks like he may be the best candidate that millionaire lobbyist Dick Armey could buy.

Moderate   November 2nd, 2009 5:25 pm ET

If Hoffman had the "ideals" of NY-23, why did the 11 county chairmen choose Dede Scozzafava for the nomination instead of his out-of-district carpetbagging?

In the debates and interviews, Hoffman has appeared as a deer-in-headlights without a true grasp on the issues facing NY-23.

His "ultra" far right nonsense has forced many of us moderates away from the GOP. In fact, many Americans will take a moderate Scozzafava, now Owens, any day over far right fundamentalism hijacking the GOP.

Bassman   November 2nd, 2009 5:25 pm ET

Hoffman believes in smaller Gov't, less taxes, strong national defense, and individual liberty. The Democrats need to tell us which of those principles they think are extreme.

Andy   November 2nd, 2009 5:24 pm ET

There you go New York district 23. Mr Hoffman just told you that he is your only "Real Republican". So now, all of the NY-23 "Real Republicans" can calm down and kick back. Mr Hoffman has "Proclaimed" himself to be the one and only.
He is the new "Soul" of the republican party. The sun rises and sets on him. "He be da only real manly man 'round town"!

Don't it just make you grind your teeth when you see and hear a politician stand up and tell you with a straight face that he's the only one?

It must be time for a beer or a stiff drink before my blood pressure rises any higher. I'm out.

www.firedoglake.com   November 2nd, 2009 5:23 pm ET

Hoffman is to be as badly informed about the obvious split in the Republican Party and about the GOP's war with itself as he is about the issues of people in NY-23.

Don't worry about it Hoffman.

Just keep speaking in vague generalities and hope enough people vote for you based on what they think you represent.

Worked for Bush in 2000.

ted   November 2nd, 2009 5:20 pm ET

I also wonder why people are still attacking Palin. She is not in government anymore. Could it be because of fear.

Tom G   November 2nd, 2009 5:20 pm ET

No one should draw the conclusion that Scozzafava is liberal because she now supports Owens. Wouldn't most folks do the same when they are attacked by their own party? Maybe she is human and is doing this because she felt like they had abandoned her.

Enough Said!!!!   November 2nd, 2009 5:18 pm ET

Palin and Limbaugh for Hoffman.....Enough Said!!!!

ted   November 2nd, 2009 5:16 pm ET

First of all Biden is an idiot. Hoffman should take this seat. And next year many more democratic seats will be taken as people wake up to the insanity that is going on in Washington.

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 5:12 pm ET

Limbaugh wants everyone that is not a wingnut out of the republican party. I would like to invite every moderate to join the democrats, the party of the majority of Americans.

Charlie Crist in Florida will be screwed by his own party.

George Bush - Worst President Ever   November 2nd, 2009 5:10 pm ET

The 23rd district of NY has been an economically depressed area for a long time. There isn't much industry. Many people are jobless. Who knows how many people can't afford health care. The economic "tax breaks for the rich" policies of the Republicans do not help the people in this region one bit. Yet the people there continue to vote Repbulicans in. They believe in the pro-life, no same sex marriage beliefs of the Republican party. Which is fine, except these issues wouldn't mean much to me if I couldn't feed my family. If the people of the 23rd vote in a Republican again, then they have no one to blame but themselves for their continued economic problems.

diridi   November 2nd, 2009 5:09 pm ET

new york, just go for Democratic candidate....Republican thugs messed this nation, will mess this nation,....no room for these GOP thugs....put dick cheney in prison...feed prison food to this idiot...

Mark   November 2nd, 2009 5:07 pm ET

The problem with the GOP is that they where not sticking to their fiscal conservative base in the past. The NY-23 is a good reflection on kicking out the liberals claiming to be conservative.

Mike   November 2nd, 2009 5:01 pm ET

What is Adolf Hoffman's definition of an ultra liberal ? Someone who is not paid off by the Corporate crooks who run our country? Today Rick Sanchez exposed one of the Conservative Blue Dog democrats who oppose health care reform. The blue dog crook Sen. Baye has a wife that was paid two million dollars by the health care insurance companies. No doubt Baye was not influenced by a mere two million bucks. These crooks hide behind conservatisism, mom and apple pie. But they are just greedy crooked scum.

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 4:55 pm ET

I still think we will get the low down on Hoffman in some undisclosed airport restroom in the near future.

Octomom/Hoffman 2012   November 2nd, 2009 4:53 pm ET

It is good that Hoffman thinks the GOP still has ideals. The soul of the new republican party is much like where we were 70 years ago.

yuri   November 2nd, 2009 4:53 pm ET

The fact that Hoffman received a curt nod from Palin and Limbaugh is reason enough to make the voters and readers like us, jittery. Whether Biden has an info. on this or not, a conservative is likely to hold extreme political opinions, as wingnuts, in order to ramrod into the road of victory. That's what we are apprehensive about.

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