The right-wing Club For Growth is on the air with a new campaign ad in the NY-23 special election, spending $300,000 to help Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in a three-way race against moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens.
“Tired of choosing between two liberals for Congress?” the announcer says. “There is a better choice. Doug Hoffman is a conservative Republican, Army veteran, financial expert, and north country small business owner.”
This race has caused a serious split on the right, with prominent national conservatives expressly working to stop the GOP’s official candidate due to her liberal views on abortion and gay marriage, and for her friendly relationship in the state legislature with labor unions. If the Democrat Owens wins because of vote-splitting on the right — or if Hoffman were to win — then the message would be loud and clear that Republicans are no longer allowed to nominate moderates for any office.
