Conservative in N.Y. race claims he's at 'heart' of GOP

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By Kara Rowland

Doug Hoffman says he's fighting for the "heart and soul of the Republican Party" by running as a Conservative Party candidate, so don't call him a spoiler.

Despite siphoning critical support away from official Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, the candidate at the heart of the GOP civil war in upstate New York shrugs off warnings that he'll cost Republicans a House seat long held by the party.

Polls give Democrat Bill Owens a slight lead, with Mr. Hoffman and Mrs. Scozzafava trailing and apparently splitting the conservative vote in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

"Since I'm the only conservative candidate in this race, I think that Bill Owens and Dede have to be concerned about splitting the liberal vote," Mr. Hoffman said defiantly in an interview.

The political newcomer, an accountant who was all but anonymous three months ago, is running in the special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by nine-term Republican Rep. John M. McHugh, in a race that has become the first national test of the electoral clout of the anti-tax "tea party" movement.

"The reason I stepped up was not only to stop this big government and higher taxes. I'm stepping up to save the heart and soul of the Republican Party," Mr. Hoffman said. "I think there are a lot of average citizens like me around the country who are worried about this excess spending, worried about government taking over our liberties."

His upstart campaign has nabbed endorsements from such high-profile Republicans as former Sen. Fred Thompson, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Advocacy groups such as the conservative Club for Growth have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race on his behalf, while former GOP House Majority Leader Dick Armey, a prime organizer of the tea party protests, has hit the campaign trail on Mr. Hoffman's behalf.

The effort has capitalized on the nationwide anger among conservatives over the government expansion that began during the debate over President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus bill and grew throughout the summer amid raucous congressional town-hall shouting matches over Mr. Obama's health care overhaul plan. A major tea party rally in Washington in September followed quickly.

Now, that anger is being put to the test at the ballot box. And in this case, the tea party voters will have to choose among a Democrat, an establishment-backed, pro-choice Republican and a more like-minded insurgent candidate in Mr. Hoffman.

Mr. Hoffman has impressive fundraising numbers, particularly for a third-party candidate.