This'll make it harder for Bill Owens to hang onto the seat he won in a special election last year. From today's Adirondack Daily Enterprise:
Doug Hoffman has dropped out of the race to represent New York's 23rd Congressional District.
...
"Our nation is at a crossroads, and it is imperative that on Election Day we wrest control of Congress from Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority," Hoffman said in a prepared statement. "It was never my intention to split the Republican vote."
Considering his indy run in the 2009 special, that last sentence doesn't pass the laugh test. But I don't suppose that's really news.
Hoffman will still appear on the ballot on the Conservative line, but he won't be actively campaigning anymore. He's now officially endorsed Republican nominee Matt Doheny.
Hoffman's Palin-endorsed third-party revolt against moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in the special election. He's gone from this:
Hoffman, a certified public accountant and businessman who lives in Saranac Lake, ran against Doheny in a Republican primary. When Doheny's win became official almost two weeks ago after the absentee ballots were tallied, Hoffman said he would stay in the race on the Conservative line to offer an alternative to "a Wall Street lawyer and a Nancy Pelosi puppet," as Hoffman then described Doheny and incumbent Democrat Bill Owens, respectively.
Now, he's endorsed Doheny. He was backed by Tea Party activists both in the 2009 special, and in this year's primary.
Cook, Rothenberg and Nate all rank this race as likely Dem; it didn't make Cillizza's top 50 ripe for turnover. There's presumably going to be some quick recalculations underway now. But, with luck, the effect won't be too big. Hoffman had already closed campaign office due to lack of funds, and wasn't mounting much of a campaign anyhow. And his name will still appear on the ballot.
If you're so inclined, you can donate to Owens' campaign.