Fearful that the party had almost no chance of winning the Nov. 3 New York special election after Republican nominee Dede Sco...

By

Politico Contributor

Fearful that the party had almost no chance of winning the Nov. 3 New York special election after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava abruptly announced Saturday that she was dropping out, high-ranking national Democrats immediately began working to secure her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens, POLITICO has learned.

On Sunday afternoon, their vigorous efforts paid off as Scozzafava bucked her own party and issued a statement supporting Owens over Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, a coup for Democrats who recognized that their best remaining chance of winning the Republican-leaning seat on Tuesday was to swing disaffected Scozzafava supporters their way. By Sunday night, Scozzafava had taped her endorsement and it was being delivered via robo-call into targeted district households.

The story of how it went down began in Washington, where the White House and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quarterbacked the effort to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement.

According to several senior Democratic officials, Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat and DCCC official, was dispatched to meet face-to-face with Scozzafava in her upstate New York district within hours of her departure from the race to make the case on behalf of the national party. He carried the proxy of the White House and congressional Democrats.

Scozzafava, according to one account, was receptive to the entreaties after becoming a target of intense conservative opposition over the past month. A moderate to liberal assemblywoman who was backed by the national GOP establishment, her nomination had become a rallying point for conservative grassroots activists who argued that she was far too liberal for them to support.

“She’s devastated that these outside interests are trying to hijack her moderate wing of the party," said one New York Democrat who had spoken to Scozzafava.

Her support had all but collapsed over the last month; by the end of the week, national Republicans began hedging their bets on her campaign and signaling that they would welcome a Hoffman victory.

When some senior Democrats worried Scozzafava might be wavering about the endorsement, according to another account, the White House got Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in the state, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to place calls to the assemblywoman on Saturday evening to coax her into delivering it. Sen. Charles Schumer, who had been in touch with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Israel, also weighed in.

Two senior Democrats with ties to the White House praised Cuomo’s role in the operation, saying they were confident Scozzafava was on board after learning that she told Cuomo: "You're going to be the next governor of New York."

Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.

June O'Neill, until earlier this year the New York Democratic Party chair, played an even more important role in courting Scozzafava, according to one New York official, because they “go to the same social events—church bingo night and the high school dance.”

A fellow North Country resident, O'Neill is close to Scozzafava and her husband, Ron McDougall, a leading upstate New York union official who works closely with state Democrats.

McDougall sent an e-mail out Saturday night offering enthusiastic support for Owens’ candidacy.

On Sunday, Scozzafava released her own statement.

“It’s not in the cards for me to be your representative, but I strongly believe Bill [Owens] is the only candidate who can build upon [former Rep.] John McHugh's lasting legacy in the U.S. Congress,” she said.

“In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.”

Her statement, which focused on the importance of local interests like Fort Drum, piggybacked on Democratic attacks on Hoffman as an outsider to the district whose opposition to earmarks and federal spending would be damaging to the economically struggling region.

Republican House leaders later said they would secure an Armed Services Committee spot for Hoffman if he wins—a slot it previously pledged to Scozzafava.

The reaction from the state party to the Scozzafava endorsement was swift and unsparing.

The Charleston Gazette is a member of the Politico Network.

By
Politico Contributor

Fearful that the party had almost no chance of winning the Nov. 3 New York special election after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava abruptly announced Saturday that she was dropping out, high-ranking national Democrats immediately began working to secure her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens, POLITICO has learned.

On Sunday afternoon, their vigorous efforts paid off as Scozzafava bucked her own party and issued a statement supporting Owens over Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, a coup for Democrats who recognized that their best remaining chance of winning the Republican-leaning seat on Tuesday was to swing disaffected Scozzafava supporters their way. By Sunday night, Scozzafava had taped her endorsement and it was being delivered via robo-call into targeted district households.

The story of how it went down began in Washington, where the White House and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quarterbacked the effort to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement.

According to several senior Democratic officials, Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat and DCCC official, was dispatched to meet face-to-face with Scozzafava in her upstate New York district within hours of her departure from the race to make the case on behalf of the national party. He carried the proxy of the White House and congressional Democrats.

Scozzafava, according to one account, was receptive to the entreaties after becoming a target of intense conservative opposition over the past month. A moderate to liberal assemblywoman who was backed by the national GOP establishment, her nomination had become a rallying point for conservative grassroots activists who argued that she was far too liberal for them to support.

“She’s devastated that these outside interests are trying to hijack her moderate wing of the party," said one New York Democrat who had spoken to Scozzafava.

Her support had all but collapsed over the last month; by the end of the week, national Republicans began hedging their bets on her campaign and signaling that they would welcome a Hoffman victory.

When some senior Democrats worried Scozzafava might be wavering about the endorsement, according to another account, the White House got Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in the state, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to place calls to the assemblywoman on Saturday evening to coax her into delivering it. Sen. Charles Schumer, who had been in touch with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Israel, also weighed in.

Two senior Democrats with ties to the White House praised Cuomo’s role in the operation, saying they were confident Scozzafava was on board after learning that she told Cuomo: "You're going to be the next governor of New York."

Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.

June O'Neill, until earlier this year the New York Democratic Party chair, played an even more important role in courting Scozzafava, according to one New York official, because they “go to the same social events—church bingo night and the high school dance.”

A fellow North Country resident, O'Neill is close to Scozzafava and her husband, Ron McDougall, a leading upstate New York union official who works closely with state Democrats.

McDougall sent an e-mail out Saturday night offering enthusiastic support for Owens’ candidacy.

On Sunday, Scozzafava released her own statement.

“It’s not in the cards for me to be your representative, but I strongly believe Bill [Owens] is the only candidate who can build upon [former Rep.] John McHugh's lasting legacy in the U.S. Congress,” she said.

“In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.”

Her statement, which focused on the importance of local interests like Fort Drum, piggybacked on Democratic attacks on Hoffman as an outsider to the district whose opposition to earmarks and federal spending would be damaging to the economically struggling region.

Republican House leaders later said they would secure an Armed Services Committee spot for Hoffman if he wins—a slot it previously pledged to Scozzafava.

The reaction from the state party to the Scozzafava endorsement was swift and unsparing.

“Dede Scozzafava’s endorsement today represents a betrayal of the people of the North Country and the people of her Party,” said Ed Cox, chairman of the New York GOP. “In contacting Scozzafava, the Obama White House has once again played its Chicago-style politics here in New York. The people of the 23rd District will not be fooled by any corrupt bargain.”

Hoffman’s campaign offered a similarly sharp response.

“This afternoon Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP,” read a Hoffman press release, titled, ‘Surprise Surprise: Dede is a Democrat.’

“The voters now know what Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens believe in—the liberal agenda of Nancy Pelosi.”

Following Scozzafava’s endorsement Sunday, a handful of upstate GOP Assembly colleagues announced they were lining up behind Hoffman.

“After being out of town, I have returned to learn that Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for Congress and has endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. This is a very disappointing development,” said Assemblyman Will Barclay in a statement. “In light of this development, I am putting my support behind Doug Hoffman.”

The Susan B. Anthony List, which has spent more than $125,000 in organizing a pro-Hoffman ground program in the district and in running radio ads, also touched on the betrayal theme.

“By her actions today Dede Scozzafava has confirmed why it was so important for conservatives and people who care about the GOP to get involved in this race,” said President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "When a GOP candidacy is not based on fundamental conservative values, the party and the principles are inevitably betrayed at critical moments.”

Even with Scozzafava's endorsement, however, Hoffman may now have enough momentum to consolidate the GOP vote in the historically Republican district to win Tuesday.

But senior Democratic officials who had all but given up on the contest Saturday felt that picking up Scozzafava at least gave them an opportunity.

Republican operatives tracking the race believe that Scozzafava's enthusiastic endorsement of Owens will carry weight with her longtime supporters in her Assembly district around Watertown, where her political standing remains high.

A Siena poll released Saturday showed Scozzafava still leading in her home base with 34 percent despite trailing well behind Hoffman and Owens districtwide. According to the poll, Owens led with 36 percent to Hoffman’s 35 percent. Scozzafava came in third with just 20 percent.

New York Republican consultant Brendan Quinn predicted the lion’s share of Scozzafava's support will now go to Owens and boost his numbers by five to eight percent on Tuesday.

“This move by the assemblywoman will make her the spoiler in this race and could deliver the election to Bill Owens.” said Quinn, a former state GOP executive director. “She’s joined the Democrats in trying to create the impression that anyone supporting Hoffman is a right-wing extremist, and that’s part of the White House message as well.”

Tom Davis, a former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, said he still believes the race is a toss-up but also expected Scozzafava supporters to swing toward Owens.

"This is not a Sarah Palin distict, and they tried to make it that way. In a 3-way race, you could have gotten 35-40 percent to win the seat, and now they need close to 50 percent," Davis said. "It’s clear in the Watertown part of the district that Hoffman is not the second choice."

Former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Tom Reynolds, who represented an upstate New York district before retiring in 2008, said Scozzafava's endorsement will have a limited impact beyond the voters she represented in the Assembly.

"This is not a small district, and this is not a congressperson doing this who was beaten in the primary,” he said. “With this race, Dede is well-known in the center in the district, but not as well known in Plattsburgh and Oswego.”

Ben Smith and Josh Kraushaar contributed to this report.