Remember NY23?

Last November, northern New York was the big political battle. The Watertown Daily Times has results of Tuesday's primary with Doug Hoffman going for the Republican nod.
The political circus may have moved on, but the voters will speak even if fewer people are listening.

NY 23 - It's finally over

The final numbers have been posted in the special Congressional election in Northern New York.
Conservative Doug Hoffman got 46 percent of the vote - pretty good for an unknown a month before the vote, but not enough to get to Washington.
Yet.

NY 23 - You can put ads in newspapers, too?

My former boss gives his latest rundown on the special election that capitivated the nation - and may still.
He reports that the three candidates combined to run only one political ad in the Watertown Daily Times - Dede Scozzafava's ad thanking voters after she left the race. Plenty of money for direct mail and TV ads, but none to reach newspaper readers.
More lessons being learned from Northern New York.

Hoffman - A Doolittle's raider?

Doug Hoffman lost. Everybody's trying to prove their points from that.
I'd like to think of his campaign as Jimmy Doolittle's raid early in World War II. It was a heroic undertaking to show Japan we were coming and we were going to kick their butts.
Democrats take note.
UPDATE: Post inspires Smitty's headline for weekly roundup.
UPDATE 2: Thanks for the link, Camp of the Saints.

NY 23 - Bummer

Doug Hoffman fell 4,000 or so votes short of winning a seat in Congress.
Before this part of New York kicks out the outsiders and returns to normal, there will be much more written about this. My former boss kicks it off.
He places Scozzafava as the Republican candidate since she was next-in-line. Like Bob Dole and John McCain before her.
Did the outsiders break up a good thing, or has the world changed enough and Hoffman-type candidates are the wave of the future?
We'll be watching.

NY 23 - Gold in them hills

Jude Seymour's blog highlights this story from the New York Daily News.
I liked this quote from the conservative consultant helping Doug Hoffman.
"We knew we had tapped a vein of ore; we didn't know it was the El Dorado."

Biden-palooza

The Other McCain has more on Joe Biden's visit to Watertown Monday morning. Can't wait for the report on John Rich and Fred Thompson's rally this evening.
The Watertown Daily Times has their story posted, and it attracted this priceless comment.
Presidents have a history of sending Vice Presidents to funerals. Today was the wake for the Owens-Scozzafava political funeral. Thanks for coming Joe.

"We are all New York 23"

Rush is talking about the New York special election at the top of Monday's show.
The Other McCain offers insights from Vice President Biden's campaign spot in Watertown.

NY 23 - No sanctuary in church sanctuary

My former boss reports on the goings-on in Northern New York.
Yesterday I was the warm-up act at First Presbyterian Church, providing the greeting and announcements. I began by urging the congregation to “Sit back, relax and enjoy knowing that you are about to experience one hour of a political commercial-free worship service.”
Oh, I liked that joke. And so did the congregation. But while I was shooting my mouth off, supporters of Doug Hoffman were in our church parking lot putting Hoffman fliers in the handles of car doors.
And apparently Joe Biden wasn't the great draw this morning.
The turnout for Vice President Joe Biden in Watertown today was bad. Like, half-full building. Like, not good. Like, you're kidding me? Like, suppose the Vice President of the Free World came to your town and you couldn't find 400 people to care?

NY 23 - Lesson to learn

What sank Dede Scozzafava in her campaign with Doug Hoffman? She promised to continue what the Republican predecessor had done - bring home money from Washington.

But saying you'll bring home the bacon
doesn't help when voters are squealing like stuck pigs.

How Northern New York was won

The Other McCain gives the inside scoop of Doug Hoffman's ouster of Dede Scozzafava.

"A huge win for the grassroots conservative wing"

Public Policy Polling's New York-23 poll is out - Doug Hoffman at 51 percent.
Start spreading the news.

PPP explains itself

Public Policy Polling will be out with its poll on New York's 23rd District shortly, and seems to be trying to explain why Doug Hoffman will lead so much in its poll.
Actually, it's three polls in one.
1. Three candidate field (Saturday morning)
2. Two candidate field (Saturday evening and Sunday morning)
3. Two candidate field with one endorsed by departed candidate (Sunday afternoon)
No, I'm not staying up until 1 a.m. or so to see the latest Virginia results. They'll still be the same at 6 a.m.

NY 23 - Gee, thanks Dede

For weeks, Republicans like Newt Gingrich said you should support Dede Scozzafava for the good of the party.
The weekend before Election Day, she suspends her campaign and then endorses the Democrat in the race.
We'll give you a few days. After Election Day, we'll be waiting for your answers.

PPP at the PP

The Watertown Daily Times' Jude Seymour, fresh off enjoying Notre Dame's win Saturday night, finds another combination of politics and sports - Public Policy Polling at the Philadelphia Phillies' game.
Nice for them to see their first World Series game. Just don't delay our polling results too much.
UPDATE: I hate when I misread something. Jude was going to the World Series, not PPP. Guess some things are more important than special elections.

NY 23 - If not Dede, then Owens

Thursday, the Watertown Daily Times endorsed Dede Scozzafava for Congress.
On Saturday, she suspended her campaign as polling showed her third in the race.
Sunday, the paper offered a new endorsement to Democrat Bill Owens. And continued it's worries that outside interests are determining the special election.
It's going to be an interesting two days, and Election Night.

Where have all the voters gone?

The Democratic theme of the year - where are all the Obama voters from 2008? Time to redo a classic for a song parody.

Where have all the voters gone?
We really need them
Where have all the voters gone?
We'd like to know
Where have all the voters gone?
Deeds is just not Obama
It's a hard lesson to learn
It's a hard lesson to learn

What about the Jersey girls?
Corzine needs them
Where are the Jersey girls?
Stuck paying tolls
What's the chances in New Jersey?
Hold your nose and vote Corzine
And hope Dems never learn
And hope they never learn

Is there hope in north New York?
Not against Hoffman
Is there hope in north New York?
Now Dede's gone?
Is there hope in north New York?
Like Biden's gonna really help?
You'd think they might learn
You'd think they might learn

How's the health care battle going?
So many pages
How's the health care battle going?
Can't read them all
How's the health care battle going?
To the graveyard pretty soon
It's a hard lesson to learn
It's a hard lesson to learn

Where's the Dems' agenda gone?
Hit the real world
Where's the Dems' agenda gone?
The money's not there
Where's the Dems' agenda gone?
Voters now more conservative
And Dems won't ever learn
And Dems won't ever learn

A video of the inspiration

NY 23 - Dede's done

Three days before Election Day, Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for Congress.
It's Doug Hoffman vs. Bill Owens in a dead-heat for the seat.
Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride these final days.

Does Hoffman equal Obama?

Can we compare the campaigns of Conservative Doug Hoffman with President Obama's 2008 run? Yes, we can.
Look at the opponents. Hillary/Dede Scozzafava were both the establishment candidates.
Obama/Hoffman were the insurgents.
How about key endorsements? Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama showed the party regulars that it was cool to endorse the insurgent.
Sarah Palin's endorsement of Hoffman pushed him to another level, and forced other Republicans to make a decision.
Look at how the enthusiasm for the insurgent has swamped establishment candidate. The "look at all my experience and knowledge of your issues" hasn't worked.
Now, which insurgent will do a better job? When it comes to the budget, I trust an accountant more than a community organizer/lawyer/writer.
UPDATE: Linked by Ferdinand over at the-spearhead.com

I'm so jealous

Look at all the attention the New York congressional special election is getting. Radio talkers, national correspondents and now John Rich is coming to their cities (and small towns).
If only Bob McDonnell hadn't run such a good campaign, we could be the center of the political universe.