NY-23: Scozzafava Endorses Democratic Candidate

And there were people questioning those of us who said "You know, there's talk if she won she'd just become a Democrat..."

So, Dede Scozzafava; one day after dropping out of the race for New York's 23rd Congressional District, goes and proves those folks right by endorsing Democrat Bill Owens.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., was among those who urged Dierdre K. Scozzafava to endorse Democratic congressional candidate William L. Owens, the senator’s spokesman said Saturday.

The spokesman, Maxwell Young, said the senator called a number of north country political leaders after Ms. Scozzafava suspended her campaign and had more than one conversation with the Republican candidate ahead of her announcement. He said the senator also called other Democratic leaders about the situation, including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Mr. Owens said he was “honored” by the endorsement.

“Over the course of her career, Dede has always committed to serving the people of Upstate New York before serving a partisan agenda,” he said in a statement. “Now more than ever we need bipartisan solutions to help bring jobs to Upstate New York to get our economy back on track and move our country forward. Those are the kinds of priorities I will fight for in Congress because that’s the kind of leadership Upstate New York needs right now.”

Those in the camp of the Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman called Ms. Scozzafava a turncoat.

“This afternoon Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP,“ Senior Communications Advisor Rob Ryan said in a statement. “She endorsed a Pelosi Democrat who will spend more, tax more, and push the liberal agenda that is dragging down this nation.”

What happens after this is anyone's guess.  Personal Policy Polling, a Democratic polling firm in North Carolina, reported on Twitter their polling for the day had Hoffman up by 15 points in a straight head-to-head race.  On the other hand, Scozzafava's husband is a big-wig in the AFL-CIO and other unions in the District.

Tuesday night could be a long one for the political geeks.