NY-23: Sarah Palin Wins, Again

It is fascinating to see how the special election in Congressional District NY-23 is influencing the 2012 Republican Presidential race. More importantly, it is a real test of political influence. Once again, Sarah Palin showed real leadership by being the first of the 2012 candidates to endorse the Conservative Party Candidate over the Moderate, Pro-Choice Republican.

And now that the Republican has stepped aside, Sarah Palin action's have been vindicated - once again. The AP has a nice, concise look at the happenings and players in NY-23:



In a class move, Sarah Palin has reached out through Facebook to thank Dede Scozzafava:

I want to personally thank Republican Dede Scozzafava for acting so selflessly today in the NY District 23 race. Now it's time to cross the finish line with Doug Hoffman so that he can get to work for District 23 and the rest of America.

With Congress poised to overhaul one-sixth of our economy with so-called health care “reform” (which is really a government takeover of health care) and with plans to enact a cap-and-tax bill just as our economy struggles to recover, Doug Hoffman will be a voice for fiscal responsibility and common sense in Washington.

We need candidates like Doug now more than ever. In these final days of the campaign, it's vital that Doug continue to receive the enthusiastic support of those who want to bring common sense to Washington. Let’s help make it happen! You can help Doug by visiting his official website today and offering your support: https://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.html

- Sarah Palin

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who seems to trail behind Sarah palin in everything, also endorsed Doug Hoffman - right after Sarah Palin did. The Minnesota Independent blog reminds us that Governor "Me Too" also had a reaction to the Scozzafava withdrawal on Twitter:

Republican @DougforCongress now has clearest path to victory yet. Time for all to join the fight. #tcot #rs #biggovt

Other 2012 Republican Candidates, including Governor's Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, showed no leadership by sitting the race out and endorsing neither Hoffman or Scozzafava.

But the most interesting NY-23 move by a potential 2012 candidate came from Newt Gingrich, who endorsed Scozzafava, abandoning his Conservative base.

Don Surber in The Daily Mail has an interesting post entitled Newt supports Hoffman (now that Scozzafava is out)

Surber point out that New Gingrich reacted to the withdrawal in the National Review online with this statement.

Hoffman Emerges [Newt Gingrich]

The emergence of Doug Hoffman as the only alternative to a pro-tax increase, pro-Pelosi liberal is a victory for Mike Long and the Conservative party, in alliance with the national conservative movement and talk radio.

The challenge for the next three days is to convince every Republican who opposes Pelosi and opposes tax increases that Doug Hoffman is the only vote that can stop the Left on Tuesday.

In a district that has double-digit unemployment, tax increases are a threat to further crush the economy.

If taxes are the key issue, the Democrats will suffer a significant defeat.

In all three elections Tuesday the Democrat is going to run ten to twenty points behind Obama's share a year ago.

That is dramatic decay for a brand in 12 months.

— Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives

Surber then reminds us of what Newt said at a book signing jut a few days ago:



The Washington Independent sums it up best in an article entitled NY-23: What happens? Who Wins? Who Loses?

Would-be Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich, and to a lesser extent Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, have done themselves some damage by not getting on Hoffman’s bandwagon when it counted. Gingrich, in particular, who appeared on Fox News to make the case for Scozzafava, has quickly become a ridiculed figure among Tea Party activists.

The big winner here is Sarah Palin who's endorsement received the most attention and attracted over a million dollars in campaign contributions to Doug Hoffman and catapulted him to the front of the public opinion polls. In NY-23 Sarah Palin flexed her political might - you know, the same political might that detractors claim is non-existent - and proved, once again, she is a powerful force in American politics. And what frightens the old guard of the Republican party and the Democratic opposition the most is - she doesn't have to play by the old rules. Sarah Palin is paving her own way. And as Newt Gingrich found out, much to his own embarrassment, ii is best to either get behind her or get paved over.