GOP nominee pulls out of N.Y. race

The embattled Republican nominee for a New York House seat announced Saturday that she is suspending her campaign, citing a recent poll that shows her too far behind the Democrat and a third-party candidate to win.

According to a Siena Research Institute poll released Saturday, Dede Scozzafava has 20 percent of the vote in the upstate New York district, trailing Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who are neck and neck at 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

“As a life-long resident of this district, I care deeply and passionately about its people and our way of life,” Mrs. Scozzafava said in a letter to supporters. “Whether as a candidate for Congress, a state Assemblywoman or a small town mayor, I have always sought to act with the best interest of our district and its residents in mind-and today I again seek to act for the good of our community.”

Mrs. Scozzafava’s withdrawal is a huge boon to Mr. Hoffman in the Republican-leaning district.

The state Assemblywoman, who breaks with the GOP on thorny issues such as abortion, card check and the stimulus bill, had been rapidly losing supporters to Mr. Hoffman’s upstart campaign. An accountant with no political experience, he was able to attract high-profile endorsements from former New York Gov. George Pataki, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Sen. Fred Thompson, to name a few.

The widely followed race pitted the Republican establishment in Washington against so-called tea partiers.

“It’s time for us to send a message to Washington — we’re sick and tired of big-spending, high-taxing, career politicians and by voting for me on Tuesday you will send that message loud and clear,” Mr. Hoffman said in a statement reacting to the news.

Despite previously attacking Mr. Hoffman, Republican leaders on Saturday encouraged citizens to vote for him.

“He is the only active candidate in the race who supports lower taxes, fiscal responsibility and opposes Nancy Pelosi’s agenda of government-run health care, more government and less jobs. We look forward to welcoming Doug Hoffman into the House Republican Conference as we work together for the good of our nation,” Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions said in a joint statement.

Mr. Owens praised Mrs. Scozzafava, blasting Mr. Hoffman and his conservative supporters.

“Voters have a clear choice on Tuesday: they can elect to go back to the George Bush economic agenda, or they can vote to move forward. Doug Hoffman and the Club for Growth’s extremist agenda won’t do a thing to get our economy moving again,” he said.

Mrs. Scozzafava did not endorse anyone in her letter, saying she releases her supporters “to transfer their support as they see fit to do so.”

Mr. Hoffman spent Saturday campaigning with Mr. Pataki, while Vice President Joe Biden is hosting a rally on behalf of Mr. Owens on Monday.