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November 2, 2009

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Mon Nov 02, 2009, 11:46 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH — Area Republican leaders are offering their support to Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman in the race for the 23rd Congressional District.

Clinton County Republican Party Chairwoman Janet Duprey and Franklin County Republican Party Chairman James Ellis both issued statements Monday saying their party will be backing Hoffman.

The move comes a day after Republican Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava, who dropped out of the race on Saturday, endorsed Democrat William Owens.

PARTY CHAIRS
"As the Republican county chairperson, I have consulted with many members of our county committee over the past several hours," Duprey said Monday.

"The committee has decided to endorse the Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman and to recommend his election to Congress to represent the 23rd District. We certainly do not support her (Scozzafava) endorsement of the Democratic candidate."

Duprey was instrumental in Scozzafava's selection as the Republican candidate last summer, when the Republican chairs of the 11 counties made their choice.

Ellis also came out with a statement in support of Hoffman.

"With the suspension of Assembly member Dede Scozzafava's campaign, we urge our fellow county residents to send Doug to Washington to vote against the reckless governance of Nancy Pelosi and the reckless spending that will bankrupt us, our children and our nation," Ellis said.

SENATOR'S SUPPORT
State Sen. Betty Little, a Republican, also offered her support for Hoffman.

"On the issue that matters most in this election — the economy — Doug Hoffman has the right ideas and the right experience," she said.

SPOKESMAN TURNS
Scozzafava campaign spokesman Matthew Burns also said he was supporting Hoffman, despite his former boss's move.

"Dede is entitled to her own opinion, as is everyone, but I am disappointed by and disagree with her decision to support Bill Owens," Burns said.

'BETRAYAL'
Hoffman campaign spokesman Rob Ryan said Scozzafava showed that she is a true liberal, a tag she had throughout the campaign because of her support for abortion and gay marriage.

"Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP," Ryan said. "She endorsed a Pelosi Democrat who will spend more, tax more and push the liberal agenda that is dragging down this nation."

OWENS 'HONORED'
Owens said he was honored to have Scozzafava's support.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for what she has accomplished. We share a commitment to finding common-sense solutions to address the challenges we're facing here in Upstate New York."

NEW POLL
Scozzafava dropped out Saturday morning shortly after a poll from the Siena Research Institute showed that she had dropped to just 20 percent of the vote.

Owens had 36 percent and Hoffman 35 percent, with 9 percent undecided.

Another Siena poll on Monday showed that Hoffman led Owens by a count of 41 percent to 36 percent. The undecided block has grown to 18 percent.

Hoffman and Owens both were backed with massive financial support from Washington interests during the campaign.

Scozzafava said she had been outspent by a margin of 15 to 1, which had Duprey shaking her head.

"I really felt that Dede was the best candidate, but in between it all, it all got lost when it became this super media hype with all these outside celebrities getting involved and the locals didn't matter," she said.

"This congressional district was taken captive by glitz, glamour and nastiness, and that should not be."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com