After last year's three-way race in New York's 23rd Congressional District, one would believe Republicans would immediately rally behind Doug Hoffman -- who did more with less on just the Conservative line.
There's an argument for Hoffman as a candidate for efficiency's sake, for local appeal and the fact that he is clearly one of American's natural tea party candidates.
In a year where tea party groups will have their backs up about endorsing any candidates (I will have more about that later), Hoffman is the natural for them. As Dean Murray gets his third round of free media on FOX News for winning a special election on Long Island for an Assembly seat in New York, tea party activists who became candidates are in a rarified category. That's about to change. Many more are about to show up.
But Hoffman was an everyman candidate before tea parties were catching on fire last year. He coincided with the movement's rise and his populist support is the real thing.
So are Republicans in New York State going to rally behind this guy -- or does it have to be another trip to the dentist?
Hoffman was at the Conservative Party's CPAC in Washington, D.C. this past week, reported the Syracuse Post-Standard. Conservative State Chairman Mike Long was standing right next to him. This is an "in your face moment" for the conservative movement. Some Republican leaders understand the value of this conservative movement. Others refuse feel that they are being made to eat crow.
Richard Pollack, Washington Bureau Chief for PJTV (Pajamas Media), saw Hoffman as an early rallying cry.
“Doug Hoffman is the poster-child for what is happening in America right now,” Pollock said as his crew worked the CPAC convention floor.
“He was pre-Scott Brown (the GOP candidate who captured the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate from Massachusetts seat in January) and pre-Massachusetts,” Pollock said. “He is a man who was a little ahead of his time. And we want to hear about it.”
Pollock said Hoffman tapped into voter discontent with the established political parties in Washington and the growing size of government. “He was reflecting a national trend,” Pollock said. “He was the anti-politician and I think he is still the anti-politician.”
Talking Points Memo mentioned Hoffman as the candidate who could unite all Republican factions -- but some members of the media want more of these "in your face" moments to antagonize the G.O.P. nationally.
The mainstream media is also looking for "Being There" moments to embarrass tea party candidates. Some reporters aren't going to be kind about it.
Local Machinations
News Copy has learned that Republican county leaders around the 23rd are still pushing Assemblyman Will Barclay. Hoffman was extremely well received by Conservatives in D.C. but we're hearing that the State GOP still won't pull the trigger on Hoffman's candidacy. As one former Pataki operative noted to News Copy, Barclay couldn't win a State Senate seat when he was handed that opportunity on a silver platter.
Less than a month ago, Barclay was calling Hoffman "arrogant" for stating that he will stay in the race if he is not the Republican Party's choice.
“Doug Hoffman needs to quit acting so arrogant and state clearly and unequivocally whether he will support whichever candidate Republican primary election voters decide they want to be our candidate for Congress against Democrat Bill Owens.”
Meanwhile, The Valley News reported that Barclay has his own problem at his back over his Assembly seat.
Four candidates have shown up to run for the 124 District Assembly seat "in the event" Barclay chooses to run in the 23rd.
Barclay hasn't dropped out of that race yet -- nor has Barclay made the formal decision for 23rd.
Yet he's calling Hoffman arrogant?
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