Thoughts on the NY-23rd Congressional District Race

The race in New York's 23rd Congressional District has taken on a life of its own. Over the weekend, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race and then threw her support to Democratic candidate Bill Owens. I was struck by something Foon Rhee, Deputy National Political Editor of The Boston Globe, wrote:

Democrats are chortling over the happenings, asserting that it shows how divided the Republican Party is.

Well, Democrats might not be chortling tomorrow night should Doug Hoffman of New York's Conservative Party prevail. Now, there's no doubt the GOP goofed with regard to its support for Scozzafava whose positions are to the left of President Obama. She did herself no favors when she called the police after being asked questions she didn't like by John McCormack of The Weekly Standard. Scozzafava's subsequent endorsement of Owens leaves egg on the faces of the likes of RNC Chairman Michael Steele and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But how divided will the Republican Party be tomorrow if they can win gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia?

The liberal media really took interest in this race once Sarah Palin endorsed Hoffman. Michael Tomasky can say what he will about Hoffman but he should at least spell his name correctly.

The liberal media will paint this race as a litmus test for Palin. Yet if Hoffman wins, the Tomaskys of the world will argue that the rubes in Watertown are sliding towards extremism and that it's all Palin's fault. If Hoffman loses, the Tomaskys of the world will argue that Hoffman was too extreme for the good citizens of Watertown thus proving that Palin is too extreme for America. Regardless of the outcome, the liberal media will have nothing good to say about either Sarah Palin or Doug Hoffman.