Ominous Trend: WT Reports NY 23rd Resentment of “Outsiders”
According to this morning on-line edition of the Washington Times, voters in the NY 23rd are “fed up” with outsiders, and, more worrisome, that a potential backlash has put the two remaining candidates in a statistical tie in an otherwise solidly republican district.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. - One day after conservative activists succeeded in forcing Republican Dede Scozzafava to quit New York’s special congressional election, many residents in this sleepy town just south of the Canadian border say they are fed up with outsiders influencing the race.
And while the district leans Republican, it is far from clear where the state assemblywoman’s former supporters will direct their votes Tuesday. In an odd twist, Mrs. Scozzafava on Sunday endorsed Democratic nominee Bill Owens, while Republican leaders have thrown their support behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. The two men were locked in a statistical dead heat as of Saturday.
“I think it’s a shame,” electrician William O’Donnell said of Mrs. Scozzafava’s withdrawal. A self-described “ex-Republican,” Mr. O’Donnell blamed her poor showing in the polls on “outsiders coming up and trying to push their agenda down our throats.”
“The only thing they care about is getting one more seat [in Congress]. After that, they’re not going to care about what’s going on up here,” he said.
An Owens victory, resulting from voter resentment over outside conservative influence, would be an ironic and telling result. A Hoffman win would send up a clear signal to the GOP nationwide.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/02/outsiders-influence-irks-voters-in-ny-house-race/
