Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election, is now challenging her opponents to hold more debates — and focusing on the one who has been the biggest thorn in her side, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.
Scozzafava held a press conference this morning, right outside of one of Hoffman’s campaign offices. “I’ve agreed to debate,” Scozzafava said. “I’ve agreed to every forum that’s been offered and I think it’s time that the opposition and both of my opponents agree as well.”
Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan responded in a statement saying that they have tried to debate — and also lambasting Scozzafava’s campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, and calling on her to drop out of the race for the good of the GOP.
Here’s the statement:
“Dede Scozzafava is either extremely cynical or has a very short memory. On August 19, 2009 the Hoffman campaign challenged Dede Scozzafava to a series of 3-5 debates across the district. We asked the Republican County Chairs to sponsor them. The Hoffman campaign even offered to pick-up the rental costs of the venues. Both Scozzafava and the GOP County Chairs refused.
“Dede Scozzafava is desperate; she flip-flops on issue after issue, she calls the police on reporters, and now she claims she hasn’t had an opportunity debate. It’s sad, Dede Scozzafava’s staff needs to tell her that she’s the spoiler in this race and that for the good of the Republican Party and her own reputation she should drop out of the race now.”
