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Poll: Conservative Hoffman takes dominant lead in New York 23

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/02/09 7:35 AM EST

Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has pulled into a 17-point lead over Democrat Bill Owens in the congressional race in New York's 23rd District, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling. That lead is in a three-way contest that includes the newly-withdrawn Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava; in a two-way contest between Hoffman and Owens, Hoffman leads by 16 points.

In the three-way race, Public Policy Polling has Hoffman at 51 percent, with Owens at 34 percent and Scozzafava at 13 percent. In the two-way race, Hoffman leads Owens 54-38.

Public Policy Polling admits that surveying the race has been somewhat chaotic in the last few days -- days in which the Republican Scozzafava, trailing badly, withdrew from the race and endorsed the Democrat Owens. "Polling the race was a little haphazard in a weekend with many twists and turns," writes PPP. But the pollsters say Hoffman had a solid lead over Owens -- 49 percent to 31 percent -- in interviews conducted before Scozzafava's announcement. After the news that Scozzafava was leaving, Hoffman's lead grew even more. Then, when Scozzafava endorsed Owens, the two-way race got a little closer, but Hoffman still held a 14-point lead.

"The bottom line," writes PPP, "is that Hoffman led by double digits during every segment of the poll, an indication that he may have been headed for a definitive victory regardless of Scozzafava's actions over the course of the weekend."

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Consevativeaction

Nov 2, 2009

I think some of the Unions are beginning to realize that the Democrat & liberal policies don't fit into their thinking any longer. They have voted Democrat for 50 yrs. because that is what they were told to do. They are beoming free-thinkers & realizing they have been duped.

Left winging

Nov 2, 2009

Give Newt the Bronx cheer than put him on the pay no mind list. He is an idiot
YOu only need to listen to Rush, Glen and Michael Savage !

Paul Revere's needed

Nov 2, 2009

Tea time

AZ Smitty

Nov 2, 2009

Hear that russling sound? That, my friends is ths sound of the PITCH FORKS hitting the manure pile. It is time to muck-out the stalls called congress and senate. Scozzafava has cleared up any pretext that she ever was a Republican. Newt and the "good ol boys" need to get a clue, we are sick of RINO representatives.

Blue dogs

Nov 2, 2009

Remember Newt Backed Scoobieduzza

Stop listening to the past and start
understanding Rush Glen and Savage
Newt is the old cabal. He was dead wrong again.

Its either you want less government
more freedom or you want the Olympia
Snowjobs and Susan ( Tom ) Collins
Not big tenters, just flip floppers

Where is the democratic big tent for more blue dogs?

Elwood Baas

Nov 2, 2009

Newt and Republican elite moderates have egg all over their face.

Joe

Nov 2, 2009

I just hope you folks in New York do the right thing and vote in Hoffman!! The hell with Newt and all the other dimwits who say otherwise!!

Mad Monica

Nov 2, 2009

What about the money? Is the GOP going to demand this woman give the money back? After all, she claimed to be a republican, yet the first chance she got she endorsed a democrat. I say take her to court and get the GOP money back. The GOP will get no more money from me for debacles like this.

Campbell

Nov 2, 2009

I think one of the appeals of Hoffman is that he is not slick politician. So many of us have been duped by the slick, that an average guy with our values has real appeal. (By average I don't mean above average in smarts, I think Hoffman is plenty intelligent I mean not charm-schooled)

Tater Salad

Nov 2, 2009

I wish we had a guy like this Hoffman dude running for office in my neck of the woods. Less taxes will bring small business and a job is alot better than a one time stimulus check that does nothing for getting us jobs. It only pays the bills for month.

Congress Works For Us

Nov 2, 2009

Campbell -- AMEN!

This is a revolt against career politicians.

Btw, it's obvious what the calls between Rahm Emanuel and Dede Scozzafava were about on Sunday.

Hoffman will win (her "endorsement" guarantees that), and Dede will change to become a Democrat and will be his opponent in 2010 with DNC backing. Just watch.

GO DOUG!!!

Nov 2, 2009

Thanks to the Liberal Media bias, it's a shame that today in America we accept the label "moderate" for candidates that are big government spenders, tied up with special interests, and don't take limited government Constitutional governing seriously.

Candidates like Owens and Scozzafava who are anti-limited government who support the intrusive Nanny-State should be called accurately Extremists.

I and many others are tired of principled candidates like Doug Hoffman getting put down and are excited to see someone like him running.

MAY DOUG HOFFMAN AND THE PEOPLE PREVAIL ON TUESDAY!!!

dick goesinya

Nov 2, 2009

We are going to take our Country BACK! libtards are going DOWN!!!!

Told ya so.

Nov 2, 2009

Dede was a liberal in GOP clothing. What were the GOP leaders thinking when the backed her????

Royally Disgusted

Nov 4, 2009

Thanks in much part to a determined politician in keeping only 2 parties involved in the farce of the government we have, Scuzzballfava kept her name on the ballot to siphon votes and endorsed Owens to boot - the worst part was that the voters in this district were too timid to try a (C) on the ballot.
A much better man lost tonight in New York, and I've lost all respect for this GOP political maneuvering of the last decade. Hoffman for 2010, and try it again. I'll be in the Conservative party next year to pull for the businessman.

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Poll: Conservative Hoffman takes dominant lead in New York 23

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/02/09 7:35 AM EST