ALBANY, N.Y. — A day after Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava abruptly suspended her campaign for Congress, she announced Sunday she’s endorsing the Democrat in the race, not the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.
Scozzafava said Democrat Bill Owens would be better at building on the legacy of Republican John McHugh, who previously represented the 23rd Congressional District. McHugh vacated the seat after accepting a position in the Obama administration as secretary of the Army. The special election to replace him is scheduled for Tuesday.
A Siena College poll showed Scozzafava a distant third behind Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman. Big-name Republicans such as Sarah Palin and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson backed Hoffman.
The race pitted conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. Hoffman painted Scozzafava as too liberal, specifically noting her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He told voters in the historically GOP district that she’s not the kind of Republican they want representing their interests in a Democrat-led Congress.
Owens released a statement saying he’s honored to receive the endorsement.
The Associated Press
