Buoyed by an endorsement this week from former Alaska Gov. and GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman is beginning to look more like a contender than a spoiler, according to the Oswego Palladium-Times.
Palin's endorsement of Hoffman over Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava, a state assemblyman, comes on the heels of support from former GOP Sen. Fred Thompson, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and onetime GOP presidential candidate Steve Forbes.
Palin had written on her Facebook page that Scozzafava was a "candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race."
Two recent polls have shown businessman and lawyer Bill Owens, the Democrat, with a modest lead over Scozzafava. One had her getting the backing of only 46 percent of Republicans, with Hoffman drawing 27 percent of GOP voters. Owens had the backing of 60 percent of Democrats.
The race is to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. John McHugh who was chosen by President Obama to be Army Secretary.





