Scozzafava quietly asking her supporters to vote for Owens! LOL

[Joanne98]

"During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens"

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091101/OPINION01/311019918/-1/OPINION

[Captain Hilts]

1. Why be quiet?

[Joanne98]

2. Dede's Democratic Preference? »

By Elizabeth Benjamin

Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who did not formally endorse either of her rivals when she dropped her bid for former Rep. John McHugh's seat in NY-23 yesterday, apparently has a favorite after all - and it's not Conservative nominee Doug Hoffman.

According to the Watertown Times, which had endorsed Scozzafava and switched its support to Democratic candidate Bill Owens this morning, the Republican assemblywoman "began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters" to vote for Owens yesterday.

This occurred as she publicly declined to choose sides after her campaign and a Hoffman operative agreed giving him her nod would do more harm than good.

At 10 p.m. last night - right in the middle of the Halloween festivities - Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall, president of the Jefferson/Lewis/St. Lawrence Central Labor Council issued a statement through the AFL-CIO that he is endorsing Owens against Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman.

According to his statement, it basically all comes down to support of the labor movement's top priority, the Employee Free Choice Act and its controversial card-check provision, which Owens and Scozzafava supported - much to the chagrin of the right - and Hoffman pointedly does not.

"This has been a difficult day for my family. But the needs and concerns of the men and women of the 23rd Congressional District remain paramount," McDougall said. "As such, I wholeheartedly and without reservation endorse the candidacy of Bill Owens."

“As a life-long labor activist, I know that Bill Owens understands the issues important to working people. On the other hand, Doug Hoffman has little regard for the interests of workers."

"Hoffman’s opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, coupled with his support for the failed policies of the Bush Administration make him a poor choice to serve the citizens of the 23rd Congressional District.”


The Jefferson/Lewis/St. Lawrence Central Labor Council had endorsed Scozzafava, along with much - but not all - of the labor community.

McDougall and his role in the labor movement provided fodder early on in the campaign for Hoffman's side, which blasted him for contributing to the Working Families Party (on whose line Scozzfava has run in the past).

Scozzafava's friendly relationship with Democratic elected officials, ties to labor and her moderate views on social issues like gay marriage and abortion rights led to speculation early on that she might forsake the GOP altogether and run on the Democratic line. (The Democrats approached her; she turned them down).

Now that Scozzafava has bowed out of the race, her union backers are rushing to endorse Owens, which could prove crucial to him in the final hours of the race when it all comes down to the kind of GOTV that unions (or some of them, anyway) excel at.




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/11/dedes-democratic-preference.html#ixzz0VccQ9DRy

[malaise]

7. That's common sense

Owens actually lives in the district and is discussing things that matter to people who live there - and not the agenda of the Rethug base.

[Marr]

3. Is Owens a "blue dog"?

If a Republican candidate would rather support a Democrat than someone from the wacko-Palin wing of their own party, it makes me question the Democrat.

[Joanne98]

5. He is but a progressive couldn't win this seat anyway.

Although he did say he supports the public option.

[adamuu]

6. He is a moderate Democrat

Which is why the pundits have been saying the Democrats literally have nothing to gain or lose in this race.
This race is pure entertainment value.

[napi21]

4. Ohhh, I bet the fundies REALLY like her now! I don't live there

so my opinion doesn't mean s... but I would NEVER vote for anybody who has the support of people like Santorum etc.

[sadbear]

8. According to Fox Opinion

Scozzafava released her supporters to vote for Hoffman. But, of course, would we expect anything less from them?