November 2, 2009
Posted: November 2nd, 2009 10:01 AM ET

From
Two political heavyweights are descending on New York's 23rd congressional district Monday,
Two political heavyweights are descending on New York's 23rd congressional district Monday,

(CNN) - Two political heavyweights are descending on New York's 23rd congressional district Monday, 24 hours before voters in that closely-watched special House race head to the polls.

Vice President Joe Biden is set to hold a morning rally in Watertown with Democrat Bill Owens at 10 a.m. ET.  Biden's visit comes two days after Republican Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race - a seeming blow to Owens who had benefited from Sozzafava and conservative third-party candidate Dough Hoffman splitting the opposition vote.

Meanwhile former GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson is also heading to the upstate New York district, holding a campaign event with Hoffman Monday evening.

Thompson, among Hoffman's earliest high-profile backers who was the recent star of a campaign commercial for the independent conservative, said in a statement "Dough is Target No. 1 for the Democrats' political machine, they are desperate to win."

A recent Siena College poll conducted before Socozzafava withdrew from the race suggests Owens and Hoffman were locked in a statistical dead heat, 36-35 percent, with Scozzafava far behind at 20 percent.  Political observers predict more than two-thirds of Scozzafava's supporters are now likely to cast their vote for Hoffman.

Biden also campaigned with Owens in September while President Obama made an appearance at a fundraiser for Owens in New York City earlier this month.

Follow Alex Mooney on Twitter @awmooneycnn

Filed under: Fred Thompson • Joe Biden


Bren   November 2nd, 2009 12:02 pm ET

I am an Independent--but I am thrilled that there might be at least 2 big losses for Obama and the Democrats on Tuesday.

And, if Chrisitie can take New Jersey-–3 big losses for Obama and the Democrats!! New Jersey--a Democrat stronghold state--and a Republican is tied in the polls with the Democrat.

Let's hope that the conservatives win in all 3 races-–so that we can save our country from destruction due to Obama and the Democrats.

New Day   November 2nd, 2009 11:57 am ET

Wow! In a conservative district, a conservative is winning. I gotta sit down!

the only reason this was a story at all, was because a Dem had a chance for the first time in like a century. Now that the Rep dropped out, why is this still a story?

Lou - Manchester, CT   November 2nd, 2009 11:55 am ET

LIke the elections in VA, and NJ, the NY 23rd is another election with political shills tripping all over each other telling the peopl of the district what to do. Let the people decide amongst themseleves.

Keith in Austin   November 2nd, 2009 11:54 am ET

Since when is Joe Biden a political heavyweight? The DNC should keep him in Washington so his big mouth won't hurt them more than he has already. I like his porcelon veneers and hair plugs though!

Gordon Shumway   November 2nd, 2009 11:50 am ET

And, as usual, the question will have to be asked: "Is Biden's participation a gain for the democrats or republicans?"

Cynthia   November 2nd, 2009 11:49 am ET

Fred Thompson? Politicial heavyweight? I really don't think so. This big mouth clown does not even belong in the same ring as VP Biden, he a actor period. Who in the hell will listen to this clown let alone follow his advice on a canadate.

katiec   November 2nd, 2009 11:43 am ET

After being railroaded by the republican party am glad to see that Dede is supporting the democratic candidate. Hopefully that will
give him enough votes for the win.
Cannot believe any intelligent person would support the republicans actions and a candidate who caters to the radical religious right.

Peoples Voice   November 2nd, 2009 11:42 am ET

Just what this country needs. More crazies in Congress.

This country deserves all the bad that happens to it. We have to be the stupidest people in the world.

Moderate   November 2nd, 2009 11:34 am ET

Thompson and his far right fundamentalists are desperately driving out all moderates to push my former GOP further to the right of extreme. Sad.

It is reprehensible how the GOP "hierarchy" treated Dede and no wonder she endorsed the moderate Owens for her supporters, rightfully so.

Hoffman and his far right carpetbaggings do not have a grasp on the issues facing NY-23. He has that wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look I do not trust in any politician.

Without Dede Scozzafava in the race, Owens is clearly the better choice.

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 11:32 am ET

When you wrote 'heavyweights,' I thought Rush Dimebag was taking his un American campaign to the 23rd.

Jim   November 2nd, 2009 11:31 am ET

While it is likely that Hoffman will win, I don't think that is good news for Republican leadership. Ultimately, they failed to maintain party unity behind a candidate they hand picked. It would appear that instead of mobilizing their base, they stirred up an angry mob that they can't control or predict.

Strangely enough, I also think this proves that the WH's opinion of Fox news & tea baggers is mistaken. These people are not a wing of the GOP, because the GOP can't control them.

tarheel   November 2nd, 2009 11:30 am ET

If Scuzzifava had not already showed her true colors before her withdrawal, she certainly did by throwing what little support she had to the Democratic candidate. What did she expect when her political leanings were to the left of Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi. The people in her district should have a choice other than Left and far Left, especially in a strong conservative Republican district. I don't know who to blame most, her, or the idiots that put her in that position to start with. I assume she will now go the way of Arlen Specter and quit pretending to be a Republican.

Albo58   November 2nd, 2009 11:19 am ET

What event would require anyone to exclaim, "Quick, get Biden!"? I can't think of anything either!

UpstateNY   November 2nd, 2009 11:14 am ET

An important item left out of this story is that the Conservative candidate does not live in the 23rd comgressional district while the Democratic candidate and the former Republican candidates do.

"All politics is local." And if the candidate is not local it is a bigger deal than the news is reporting.

.

Kevin in Ohio   November 2nd, 2009 11:12 am ET

Dede Scozzafava has now endorsed the DEMOCRAT candidate.....what more proof is needed that the republicans put the wrong candidate on their slate???? No question now that Hoffman is the clear choice in this conservative district. He alone represents the values of the true American majority.

tim nyc   November 2nd, 2009 11:04 am ET

fred thompson? he did well in the presidential run...didn't he get 4 votes and rudy got 3 ?...i'm still trying to figure out which 7 people in America voted for either one....fred ought to stick to law + order reruns where they let him have 2 lines per episode( and a large scotch!)

M. Ames, Syracuse   November 2nd, 2009 11:01 am ET

Fred Thompson a "political heavyweight?"

Yeah, right...........I guess that came across in his dynamic campaign last year.

Big Daddy   November 2nd, 2009 10:59 am ET

Sending Thompson is like sending George Bush !!!

Eric in Denver   November 2nd, 2009 10:48 am ET

This race is going to be a runaway by the conservative party candidate. Just a sign of things to come for the socialist party!!

Jeff Brown in Jersey   November 2nd, 2009 10:47 am ET

Fred Thompson? Yawn...

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 10:46 am ET

I think it is time for the real conservatives to take the republican party back from the moderates. Like in ethnic cleansing, the smaller their tent, the better for their national chances. It worked well for the Nazi party.

Major defeat for Biden.........   November 2nd, 2009 10:45 am ET

this is the beginning of the end for socialism.....

Obama is ONE and DONE.

Mark   November 2nd, 2009 10:43 am ET

Socozzafava was a huge disappointment. Her supporters must be furious with her for quiting and then backing the liberal democrat. My money is on Hoffman to win and win BIG!

Richp   November 2nd, 2009 10:42 am ET

Until the GOP gets all the democrats out of the republican party they are going to have a rough time. Time to get back to the conservative side, get the religious nutcases out cut government 50% and put them back where they belong and out of our daily life.

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 10:41 am ET

This will be a tremendous victory for the right wingnuts if they are able to hold the district they have held for almost 150 years?

File under "Sarcasm"   November 2nd, 2009 10:34 am ET

That's the answer, bring big Joe in to put his foot in his mouth for Owens. Just how popular is Joe Biden in upstate New York?

Mississippi Miss   November 2nd, 2009 10:33 am ET

Excellent of Dede S. to withdraw for the good of the nation. Two great candidates splitting up the vote could have helped the unsettling Democratic Party to gain ground (however temporary that might be).

Now we can begin to see the house of cards begin to fall. The deck is stacked against all things Democratic from now until 2012. We are united and determined to dig our country out of this jobless recession, one conservative idea at a time.

Tom in Delaware   November 2nd, 2009 10:33 am ET

Now that Dede has come out and supported Owens the gloves are off...Hoffman leads by 17 points.

Now the race is down to one Conservative versus one Liberal (instead of two).

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   November 2nd, 2009 10:32 am ET

With this Republican split, we should wonder why there is the disagreement. Is there some problem? I am beginning to think that there are some real concerns that the Republicans need to work out among themselves since they have changing dynamics of what a Republican should be. I just thought that were there to do what Big Business wanted and to stop any way to help the average people (the thinking is that they can make it to the top like anyone else).

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 2nd, 2009 10:21 am ET

VP Biden yes, but Fred Thompson ain't no political heavy weight.

Shadysider   November 2nd, 2009 10:20 am ET

C'mon, CNN. Do a review of the candidate's stances. Is the moderate Republican too liberal in fiscal matters, or social matters for the conservative base? Or both, which leaves most of us conflicted. These are the things that news media should highlight for their audience.

GI Joe   November 2nd, 2009 10:19 am ET

Fred Thompson is a GOP heavyweight?

RIP GOP.

New Yorker   November 2nd, 2009 10:16 am ET

Dede is out of the race because she was too liberal. She wasn't really a republican, just called herself one, and the proof is that she is backing Owens. Hoffman truly represents the voters in this part of America. A vote for Hoffman is a vote against the damaging goals of Obama and Pelosi who disregard the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as they try to ram their outrageous health care reform down our throats. READ THE TENTH AMENDMENT !

D. Tree   November 2nd, 2009 10:15 am ET

Moderate Republicans are tired of the fundamentalists in their party forcing everyone to be radical like them – moderate conservatives may end up voting for the Democrat just to send a message: the GOP doesn't need more radicals, they have enough already!

Ed, Santa Fe, NM   November 2nd, 2009 10:10 am ET

I don't think Thompson should be called a "GOP presidential candidate." He was not nominated.... he was merely a candidate for the nomination, and not a very good one at that.

notfooledtx   November 2nd, 2009 10:06 am ET

Fred Thompson is a "heavyweight"? He couldn't even win a primary!

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