Winning Dede Scozzafava: How Democrats got her nod
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POLITICO 44
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. The nomination of the moderate to liberal assemblywoman who was backed by the national GOP establishment had become a rallying point for conservative grass-roots 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 past 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. Chuck 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 chairwoman, 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’s 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.”
Readers' Comments (594)
Dems didn't "get her support"...they had it all along. She's more Liberal than the Liberal candidate, which is why she's not going to Congress.
Thanks for proving America right, DeDe. Now go out and join the Democrat party where you belong...that will be your next "shocking" move that will shock absolutely nobody at all.
Loser.
Why doesn't she just switch parties? She knows she is really a Democrat and so did everyone else.
Why doesn't she just switch parties? She knows she is really a Democrat and so did everyone else.
"Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.”
Yep, he's not some carpetbagger from Texas, Minnesota, or Alaska, or outside these people's district.
How Rats got her support ? She was a rat trying to sandbag the repugnicans . They are soooo dum , it took Sarah Palin to show them what courage is . Please no ephemisms equating testicles with guts or brains . They are just nuts .
Because she was always a democrat.
Like that's really gonna help Owens. Keep dreaming.....
Because she was always a democrat.
We'll see on Tuesday. The real message for the GOP in New York is that they should have a primary next time, and not rely on party operatives. Had Scozzafava and Hoffman faced off in a primary, all this might have been avoided.
The conservatives were right!
Dede wasn't a Republican in the first place. The fact that the GOP spent over $900,000 to support her campaign just goes to show you that the GOP is way out of control.
Arlen Specter in a dress.
The conservatives were right!
Dede wasn't a Republican in the first place. The fact that the GOP spent over $900,000 to support her campaign just goes to show you that the GOP is way out of control.
Gimme a break!
The Dems have had Scozzafluffernutter long before Sunday; she's been a closeted dem the whole time! Her endorsement only confirms the reason why Hoffman entered the race to begin with.
Gimme a break!
The Dems have had Scozzafluffernutter long before Sunday; she's been a closeted dem the whole time! Her endorsement only confirms the reason why Hoffman entered the race to begin with.
The moderate republicans have no choice but to stop the right wing extremist They have shown the moderates the exit door, and have taken control of the party! The moderates must fight back, and fight back hard! If that means supporting the democrates sending a clear message to those rightwing nutjobs who are out of touch, and an embarrissment that they are wrong then so be it! I would buck the Gop establishment too if I were Scozzafava's the Gop are out to lunch! .
The left certainly does seem to be united on one thing: Republicans must "move to the center", and abandon their conservative base. Or else they will be the minority forever . You know, 'bwahahaha', and all that.
Lefties: the more shrill you become about how doomed the Republicans are unless they "move to the center", the more obvious it is that what you really fear is a conservative uprising.
Republican Party leaders: this is a lot like that Verizon commercial - "Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?"
Yep, there is no room for liberals or moderates in real america!
I am glad Dede Scozzafava dropped out of this race - she does not deserve to represent anyone.
It has been already established that she is the RINO. I am pretty sure that when she switches parties Dede will become a DINO. But Alan Grayson does not have to wait until then - Dede is someone that is very deserving to be called a political whorre.
I wonder what did the WH promise her? What did it cost them to buy her?
Just look at that picture, a democrat candidate and a "republican" candidate standing together to oppose the conservative candidate. Makes a person want to hurl...
sure do fear a conservative uprising, would be kind of like a return to Hobbes state of nature were those with the most guns and the most money make all the rules and the rest of us that want to live in civilization are srewed! Yeah conservativism a return to the jungle!