New York Republicans Consider Punishing Dede Scozzafava for Backing Dem

Republican leaders in New York are raising the possibility of "punishing" state Rep. Dede Scozzafava, who withdrew from the race for Congress in New York's 23rd district and endorsed a Democrat, the Los Angeles Times' Top of the Ticket reports. Scozzafava endorsed Bill Owens after national Republicans backed third-party candidate Doug Hoffman and undermined support for her campaign. Conservatives said Scozzafava, who supports gay rights and abortion rights, was too liberal to run as a Republican.

New York Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb has been holding meetings with Scozzafava, in which he expressed his displeasure with her endorsement. He has openly floated the idea of removing her as the GOP floor leader. Scozzafava, meanwhile, has said she might not run for a seventh term in the state assembly next year. She reportedly told Kolb she's sorry if her endorsement put him in an "awkward position," but apparently stands by her decision.

"If this is my end, so be it," she told the Watertown Daily Times. "At least I know we have a congressional representative who is going to put the interests of the district above the interests of the Club for Growth and the Rush Limbaughs of the world."