Sarah Palin breaks with GOP to endorse Conservative Party candidate in N.Y. House race

Sarah Palin, who a few people may recall was the vice presidential candidate on last year's Republican Party ticket that crashed and burned, has broken with her party in the race for a House seat from New York and endorsed the candidate of the state's Conservative Party.

Palin announced late Thursday night that she was endorsing Doug Hoffman as, well, more conservative than the Republican Party candidate Dede Scozzafava in the race to fill New York's 23d District.

That seat was vacated by President Obama's appointment of Republican Rep. John McHugh as secretary of the Army. Hmmm.

"Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share," Palin said, "smaller government, lower taxes, national defense and a commitment to individual liberty."

Palin then urged her supporters to contribute to Hoffman's third-party campaign against the establishment GOP pick that some conservatives complain is not Republican enough, a complaint sometimes also aimed at Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who thrust Palin into the political spotlight last year.

During the last two congressional elections that were so disastrous for the GOP, Republican McHugh won the 23d's House seat with ease, even as Obama beat out the Palin-what's-his-name ticket with 52% of the vote.

Palin's backing of Hoffman matches the endorsement of Hoffman by former Sen. Fred Thompson and ex-Rep. Dick Armey and puts the trio in direct conflict with former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who  has endorsed and helped Scozzafava, and the party's Washington establishment.

The schism on the right creating a three-way race may well mean that Democrat Bill Owens squeaks to a victory in the normally GOP district, a House gain that probably never even crossed the minds of political strategists in the White House when they named McHugh to the Pentagon.

The New York House race and the governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey will be closely watched as indicators of voter attitudes 10 months into the hectic Obama presidency and 12 months out from the congressional midterm elections. Hence, the White House and Democratic National Committee investing so much effort in helping their party's candidates.

-- Andrew Malcolm

To ensure the future of American democracy, click here for Twitter alerts on each new Ticket item. Or follow us  @latimestot. We are also on Facebook if you can move the cursor just a little bit over here.

Comments

[wtobias]

it will not go to the democrat im from that area and its all republican they all lean to the conservative side ,in fact the dede sozzafava has tried to push herself off as a conservative but in fact she is liberal she has voted for tax increases and for every liberal legislation that comes up the people of up state ny are sick of the taxes, sick of paying for nys problems sick of tired of the liberal agenda Albany passes that punishes business that drive jobs out of new your state

[Sarah Fire]

Who needs dog fight videos when you can watch the GOP!

[Tom]

What credentials does Shara Palin, a simple peasent, have to weigh in on any matters that involve critical thinking? She's a stupid soccer mom from Alaska. Tom

[yo gu hoo boo]

"Sarah Palin, who a few people may recall was the vice presidential candidate on last year's Republican Party ticket" this beginning sentence is enough to know that the rest of the article would be junk in disguise. The FACT everyone in America knows her well, either hate her or love her, and people know her throughout the world.
he he

[anOPINIONATEDsob]

Why would any intelligent person consider Sarah Palin a credible source for information and advice on who to vote for? This woman is little more than the poster child for the stupidity of the far right who have come to believe in fairy tales and witch craft. Like Murdock's morons, she actually believes she is an authority on something though intelligent people are still trying to figure out just what that is.

[anOPINIONATEDsob]

Sarah, please pac and return to Alaska, quietly!

[Truth-4-Once]

Come on, while Palin may not have been a vote worthy choice for most, her selection renewed debate about women in national politics.

Using descriptions like "few people may recall" and "crashed and burned" to reference Palin and the McCain Campaign are sophomoric at best. Hmm, there's a thought, perhaps the Times is recruiting news staff from high schools to help offset rising operating costs in the face of declining advertising and circulation.

This article is just one more example of why the LA Times continues on the fast track to irrelevance. Send Mr. Malcolm back to hi-skool. Report the news!

[Bush Ruined America]

Is there some reason why anyone would even care who Palin endorses?

[Skip Carlsen]

If this piece of ‘news’ is meant as commentary it should be identified as such, because as ‘news’ it is sorely lacking in objectivity. That being said, it shouldn’t be left up to a layperson like me to remind you of how the press should act professionally.

(This is not a news story. It is called a blog. You can tell because the authors are identified on this same page as "Bloggers." Blogs are by definition commentary. Thanks for visiting.)

[Concerned Citizen]

Funny. Who cares what Sarah Palin says or does? I do, however, appreciate the left-wing strategy of trying to keep her in the news. She is, after all, a total disaster and a liability to the Righties. She has nicely filled the dingbat void created when Dubya departed.

I also must chuckle the contention that Obama won in a landslide by getting 52% of the vote. Considering "What's-His-Name" received 47%, that means that a 3% swing in the other direction would have resulted in President McCain. (Before you howl at the math, subtract 3% from Obama and add 3% to McCain.)

Don't get me wrong. I was elated when Obama won. However, I am incredibly disillusioned by the fact that he has abandoned most of his campaign pledges. Also, the fact that he has surrounded himself with bank stooges is very disheartening. (That 3% is rapidly turning against him.)

(68% of what counts, the Electoral Votes, is called a landslide.)

[Vickie]

It is a good measure of intelligence whether this woman can sway one voter.

[innerjuju]

Drives me crazy with comments like "The New York House race and the governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey will be closely watched as indicators of voter attitudes 10 months into the hectic Obama presidency and 12 months out from the congressional midterm elections." What happened to voting based on the candidate themselves and not as a reflection of a Washington administration??

[Nvassarx]

Andrew Malcolm--------------GET OVER IT.........Obam won the White House.
You state on Numerous occasions about that lady who a few people may recall was the vice presidential candidate last year. The Palin whats his name ticket that Obama-nation beat, was so childish. Obama won and you just have to get on with your life. The Republican Party is gone and burned up, so then what is the BIG DEAL NOW? Sarah Palin must be a THREAT?? wow?

[Alex]

Sarah Palin and Dick Armey, what a team! The far-right wing of the republican party is isolating itself and creating a 25% party that poses no threat whatsoever in 75% of congressional districts, and an absolute joke in the general election! It makes me cringe and smile at the same time.

[Paul Lalli]

Ms. Palin is a *former* VP candidate, and a *former* governor. Why would anyone consider anything she does even remotely newsworthy?

[Chuckles]

Mr. Malcom: editorial content in a news story? Re: "crashed and burned" - that is an opinon. 59,934,814 American citizens voted for McCain-Palin. If the outcome was 10 million, I would say so. But close to 60 million votes out of 130 million cast is hardly 'crashed and burned'.

(1--This is not a news story. It's a political blog. 2--When your opponent gets 68% of the electoral votes, it's called crashing and burning.)

[Carl Smith]

Andrew,
"Sarah Palin, who a few people may recall was the vice presidential candidate on last year's Republican Party ticket...", how about more than 40 million that voted for her. That is not "a few people". Geez... get your head out of the sand.

[Thomas Jefferson]

so quittin' and failin' chooses to further push herself into the land of the lunitic fringe. Good work there "maverick", in your continuing work to splinter the repuke party. LOL

I hope this woman never shuts her mouth. She's the best thing for the Democratic party!

[Bob]

"on last year's Republican Party ticket that crashed and burned," ... yeah. No media bias here. Go take a look at the election results - Obama really didn't have the massive landslide that was predicted. I'd hardly say "crashed and burned" - unless I was the overly liberal LA Times. *sigh*

[DownriverDem]

Good. Take all the tea baggers and form a new party.

[Getagrip]

Dede Scozzafava please step aside out of the race. Let Hoffman take the reigns. I'm a republican conservative oh what the hell you want to call it. Anyways if the liberal democrat wins because Scozzafava a liberal republican takes votes away from the good guy Hoffman than I'll say that whoever ran Scozzafava and if that was Michael Steeles decision than they don't know what the hell their doing. Do you want to take congress back or just play meely mouth games.

Sarah Palin is great and would be as a running mate with Mike Huckabee for president. But, I would prefer the motor city rocker as VP over Mrs. Palin.

[Ed]

People are giving Sarah Palin far too much credit. At this point, her endorsements carry no more weight than any other ex-Governor, perhaps less so, if reports are to believed that she has offered to publicly support and stump for GOP candidates in the past and her offers were politely declined.

[Scott]

Um...does anyone at all CARE what this yahoo does? I think this is a waste of your paper's space.

[Hologram5]

"Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share," Palin said, "smaller government, lower taxes, national defense and a commitment to individual liberty."
-----------------------------------------------
Individual liberty? Why push the patriot act then? It basically takes away more personal liberties than anything else in history.

[SaraMN]

That's fantastic. Take all the right-wing fanatics and give us back our common-sense Republican party!

[hewhoasks]

Is there such a thing as a downward spiraling firing squad (similar to a circular firing squad)?

[PShoptaw]

Newt was wrong in his endorsment of Dede Scozzafava. In an interview with Andrew Wilkow he basically said he endorsed her because he felt she had the better chance of winning. A republican lite was better then splitting the vote and losing the seat. So I guess Spector would meet his approval?
To Newt, Michael Steele and other moderate republicans-The vast majority of Americans want conservative, small government politicians. CONSERVATIVES!!! SMALL GOVERNMENT!!

[dcuz]

You're right. Ms. Palin was a part of the ticket that "crashed and burned" almost one year ago. Funny thing is, if Palin hadn't been on the ticket, Mr. McCain (AKA: Whats-His-Name) wouldn't have gotten the percentage of the vote he ended with.

Go Hoffman Go!!!

DCuz

[Milan]

Sarah Palin is the ONLY SUPER STAR in American politics!!!
With only short Facebook post and two words "death panels"
she practicaly killed Obamacare!!!

Who else in America could have done that???
WHO???!!!
Libs and Rinos,GIVE ME THE NAME !!!!!

SARAH PALIN WILL RUN,KICK ASS,TAKE NO PRISONERS AND GET THE WHITE HOUSE !!!!!

[Delmar Jackson]

This is funny. Nearly every comment on this story is a knee jerk reaction to smear Palin as an idiot. The mere mention of her name does it, but the commenters are missing the story. The story is that there are millions of Americans that feel neither Democrat or Republicans are representing them. The Consevative party is probably doomed as all 3rd parties are, but those that continue to see all issues as partisan and are ignoring the tidal wave of resentment of the average American in Flyover country may also be doomed.

Palin is as loved for her enemies as for any of her qualities. Palin loves babies, Jesus, Guns and America and she drives those that don't crazy. God Bless Palin!

To many Americans she is someone they can identify with. She is what America used to be before the Multicultural Diversity Nazis and the Corporate Bankster whores and open border Globalistas took over.Neither the Democrat or Republicans offer anyone we can identify with. 3rd party and Palin haters, be careful what you wish for.

[Harold]

Unfortunately the author really do not understand why Sarah Palin is supporting this candidate. If you had taken the time to read her note you would have discovered that she is backing an American candidate. The majority of those in Congress today do not represent the American people or America itself.
There is no difference between a Democrats or a Republican today.

[Jim]

Reee-eeer! Lost of liberals posting here seeming to think we give a squirt about what they think about what someone elses party is doing. You guys run everything now shut up and act like it you cowards!

What, are you scared of what the "little People" are going to do in 2010? If you are so smug and confident, go back to sucking on your govt provided nipple.

Grow a pair and tell us what you got, instead of what we aint got. You're the bosses. Act like it. Keep spending money we dont have at 4 times the rate that George W did, and see where it gets you (where it got him). Its gonna get your bad selves kicked out in 2010 and 2012.

"Oh the Poor little socialists... what will they do when mainstream America tells the new Democratic party to pack up and move to Europe where you can all starve with the rest of the enlightened commie pigs?"

[The Shark]

Mrs. Palin and the conservative public do not understand that the GOP chose the worst possible candidate in a throw-away election. They could have ran Jesus Christ himself and lost because of the Bush Embarrassment. No GOP contender would have possibly won after 8 years of the Worst President the U.S. has not voted into office. Mrs. Palin is the nerd kid who cannot understand that her nomination for class president was purely a joke. The Ugly side of America cherishes their champion of the dweebs. It's not a personal attack on Mrs. Palin, but the people, politicians and ideals that she represents. Polarizing because America has not changed, it may not want to, but those days have passed us by. The world is passing us by as we hold on to that dear illusion of a White America. America needs to understand that there is New York and Los Angeles and not a damn thing worth anything in between. Maybe middle America should praise the centers of world class quality, not American antiquity and their lost world values and phantasm ideals of a world long defunct. As with any disease, the American disease is at its core and threatens to infect the crucial corners of Culture, World Class idealism and true Liberty. May the Disease of Middle America not take us down like the Roman Empire.

[EsqRmM]

And after Sara's endorsement, that Congressional district voted Democrat for the first time since . . . hmmm . . . longer than I've been alive. Thanks Sara!