Breaking: DeDe Scozzafava Drops Out of NY-23 Race (Wizbang)

Eric Odom reported this first on Twitter but didn't have a link. That comes to us from Stacy McCain:

Just confirmed that Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has quit the race. Speaking to supporters, Scozzafava broke down in tears.

My husband's first comments upon hearing this news were that he is not that convinced her dropping out will actually help the conservative. If she's so liberal that Kos felt comfortable endorsing her (which he pulled later because it helped Hoffman's chances), he wonders if it will actually drive more voters to the Democrat.

Update: She's not endorsing anyone as she leaves the stage. Instead she tells her supporters to support who they want. From the Watertown Daily Times:

"Today, I again seek to act for the good of our community," Ms. Scozzafava wrote in a letter to friends and supporters. "It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger and our district and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations."

Update II: I should note that Scozzafava dropped out after a new Sienna College poll showed her losing badly to both Hoffman and Owens:

Today's hotly anticipated Siena poll confirms the race for the seat vacated by former Rep. John McHugh in NY-23 has become a too-close-to-call fight between Democratic nominee Bill Owens and Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, who are tied at 36-35.
The Republicans' pick, Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who started out as the frontrunner, is now at 20 percent. Nine percent of voters remain undecided.

Take a look at this graph. It illustrates clearly how Scozzafava dropped like a rock once Hoffman and his conservative views became more well known. This can be attributed to folks like Sarah Palin and Fred Thompson.

Update III: 73Wire has Scozzafava's comments.

Update IV: Ed Morrissey has had the chance to examine the Siena poll and has an answer to my husband's question above. According to Ed's analysis, Owens will be badly hurt, not helped, by Scozzafava's dropping out.

Update V: I got an email from someone who's helping out Hoffman's campaign and he noted that a lot of people who were still following Scozzfava were following her because of her liberal policies, not in spite of them. She was helping to split the Left, and now she's gone. Unfortunately, this race isn't over yet.

The best thing to do to help out Hoffman is to volunteer. If you live in the district, please get yourself to the nearest campaign office and help out.

Nate Silver looked into the deep dark recesses of this morning's Siena poll and noted that Scozzafava's supporters like Obama an awful lot and don't think much of Hoffman or Owens, so the belief that it's smooth sailing for Hoffman is incorrect. It's important to keep up the hard work to help Hoffman cross the finish line as the winner.

Others who are blogging on this today:

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air
Red State

Comments (16)

Good!I think it sl... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Justrand | October 31, 2009 11:01 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Justrand

Good!

I think it slightly helps Hoffman...and slightly is all he needs.

The news will spread like wildfire and those who would have checked the box for a Republican based on Party affiliation will now be "free" to vote for Hoffman.

Also, this may enable Newt Gingrich to salvage some face!

Posted on October 31, 2009 11:01

They have finally had the p... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by recovering liberal democrat | October 31, 2009 11:09 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

recovering liberal democrat:

They have finally had the primary they should have had. Hard to say how the RINO's will jump. If they felt comfortable with Dede they will probably feel more comfortable with the socialist party candidate. Ooops, I mean the Democrat candidate.

Posted on October 31, 2009 11:09

Looks like "liberal Democra... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by GarandFan | October 31, 2009 11:50 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

GarandFan:

Looks like "liberal Democratic philosophy" is not selling well this year. Go figure.

Posted on October 31, 2009 11:50

This may help Newt Gingrich... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Debra | October 31, 2009 12:13 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Debra:

This may help Newt Gingrich save face, but I don't think it will help people forgive him and forget what he did. I am not in a forgiving mood. And I will never forget.

Posted on October 31, 2009 12:13

"I am and have always been ... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Gmac | October 31, 2009 12:22 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Gmac:

"I am and have always been a proud Republican." but I haven't voted that way, hardly ever even.
Dede

Your husbands assessment may be partially correct, any Democrats or left leaning Republican now has only the choice of Owens. OTOH Republicans that were just voting for her because she had an 'R' by her name now have a conservative to vote for.

I seriously doubt people that were going to vote for a Republican would turn out for a Democrat even if he was to the right of Scuzzafolosa's positions.

Posted on October 31, 2009 12:22

PS...Newt can go p... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Gmac | October 31, 2009 12:24 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

PS...

Newt can go pound sand.

Posted on October 31, 2009 12:24

Dearest Republicans,... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by liberal troll | October 31, 2009 12:24 PM | Score: -13 (13 votes cast)

liberal troll:

Dearest Republicans,
Please continue the circular firing squad. It's the best way to get back into power. Trust me.

Thanks,
Liberal Troll

Hey LT, You remind me of LB... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by epador | October 31, 2009 12:39 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

epador:

Hey LT, You remind me of LB. You and Teddy Ruxpin keep duking it out, OK?

Posted on October 31, 2009 12:39

The troll calls the democra... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by davidt | October 31, 2009 12:55 PM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)

davidt:

The troll calls the democratic process a cicular firing squad.

The troll should compare what happened to Scozzafava with what happened to Lieberman.

Posted on October 31, 2009 12:55

Awww, watching cartoons thi... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by liberal troll | October 31, 2009 1:02 PM | Score: -13 (13 votes cast)

Awww, watching cartoons this morning, are we epador? That's cute.

Posted on October 31, 2009 13:02

This SHOULD help the REAL r... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | October 31, 2009 3:08 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

OLDPUPPYMAX:

This SHOULD help the REAL republican, Hoffman! God only knows in New York, but surely the super RINO was more likely to pull votes from Hoffman than from the leftist. If Hoffman wins this seat it would be a remarkable achievement. Now, if only there is some honesty in the vote count and if only actual Americans will make certain Black Panthers do not get away with voter intimidation/fraud.

Posted on October 31, 2009 15:08

Yep. I say this helps Hoffm... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Clay | October 31, 2009 4:07 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Clay:

Yep. I say this helps Hoffman, and I predict an Owens defeat. The GOP has thus far been successful in promoting their Vote For The Lesser of Two Evils (tm) terror bit, which allows them to prop up any ol' RINO, but conservatives are starting to recognize that the GOP is even more scantily clad than the Emperor. There are still a few conservatives who fall for the (R) after the candidate's name even though they share little ideology. Unfortunately, They fail to realize, like many Democrats, that 'their' party has changed over the years and no longer represents their values. Too may Americans can comprehend little beyond "(R) good, (D) bad" (or the other way), and it's precisely why the GOP has been churning out such abysmal candidates as Scozzafava, and it explains how someone like Gingrich can gain traction.

You may choose to view it as a 'circular firing squad', but it's exactly the type of cleansing that should be occurring with the Democrats as well...if they were smart. I pray that GOP finally 'gets it', and they will not get my vote, or my financial support, until they do.

Posted on October 31, 2009 16:07

Clay,Excellent!</p... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by liberal troll | October 31, 2009 4:34 PM | Score: -4 (4 votes cast)

Clay,

Excellent!

Posted on October 31, 2009 16:34

LT,Thanks That's w... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Clay | October 31, 2009 4:42 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

LT,

Thanks That's what I say. In the meantime, I predict that you and your party will continue to dumb down. At least the Republicans appear to be beginning the painful process that the jackasses will have to attempt at some point...or die. Maybe the GOP hasn't officially begun the purification process, but it's starting at the grassroots, which will make it more solid anyway. It's not looking so good for you libs. I mean, look around, it's all come down around your messiah's ears...and those are damned big ears.

Posted on October 31, 2009 16:42

I certainly would not have ... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Grace | October 31, 2009 8:24 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Grace:

I certainly would not have supported Scozzafava or voted for her (if I could), but I do give her credit for dropping out. There are some politicians who would have hung in and split the vote, no matter what.

Some may say of course she dropped out once she looked at the poll numbers, but I believe it still took courage, and am thankful she made the right decision.

Posted on October 31, 2009 20:24

Clay -- The Democr... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by James H | November 1, 2009 7:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

James H:

Clay --

The Democrats went the exact opposite way as you suggest. Instead of purging the moderate nonbelievers, the Democrats reached out to right-leaning Democrats in key districts such as North Carolina's 11th, were Congressman Heath "I Hope Washington Has Forgotten I Was Once A Quarterback" Shuler beat back Republican Charles Taylor.

Posted on November 1, 2009 07:56