Most Liberal Blog in USA Endorses Scozzafava

A Few Items for Democrats to Cheer About in NY-23

First, the most liberal blog on the Internet, The DailyKos, today endorsed Dede Scozzafava for NY-23.  To our knowledge, it is the first time in the history of DailyKos that they have sided with a candidate with an R at the end of their name.  Kos supported Obama, Pelosi, Reed, and hundreds of other liberal Democrats since its existence.  They also support left of center policy positions such as abortion-on-demand, higher taxes for social programs, gun control, giving more control to the United Nations, increased support for welfare programs, gay marriage, expanding the cap on the federal deficit, etc.   DailyKos writes:

She's been willing to raise taxes when budgets require it, and is to the left of most Democrats on social issues (including supporting gay marriage)... So it's official, I'm rooting for the Republican to win. As a congresswoman, she could either move even more to the left to properly represent her progressive-trending district and be a pain in the side of the GOP caucus (they have nothing like our Blue Dogs), or Democrats can field a real Democrat to challenge her in 2010.

The DCCC is taking notice of the race on a number of important levels.  I think there might be evidence that the DCCC has been e-mailing our last post all over the place... According to our records (see below) e-mail links to our last post have been viewed from around the country (presumably the DCCC has been trying to verify whether the rumors are true that Dede pitched Scott Murphy on switching parties after November 3rd).  There might even be evidence of an e-mail sent from the DCCC to the executive office of the presidency yesterday, as well as the national headquarters of Planned Parenthood, the NY Working Families Party, and a local ACORN office.

Maybe the rumors are true?  We report.  You decide.

Arlington, Virginia, United States
Democratic National Headquarters (192.43.248.17)
www.draftdedeforcongress.blogspot.com/
draftdedeforcongress.blogspot.com/2009/09/intern-claims-scozzafava-pledged-to.html
www.mail.google.com/a/dcccnhq/2009/10/01/........

INTERN CLAIMS SCOZZAFAVA PLEDGED TO BOLT FROM THE GOP

HOT BREAKING NEWS: 

DID DEDE PRIVATELY PLEDGE TO REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY HER INTENTION TO SWITCH PARTIES AND CAUCUS WITH THE DEMOCRATS?

Aaron Blake at the Hill reported that Dede Scozzafava recently made an impromptu encounter at Democratic Representative Scott Murphy's Congressional Office.  And according to a congressional intern in Murphy's office, Dede did end up getting ahold of Murphy after trying to catch him at the office.  According to the source, Dede was fed up with the Republican Party and the conservative right wingers.  The intern overheard a conversation between Rep. Murphy and a key legislative aide which revealed Scozzafava's intent to switch parties.  

The conversation, according to the source, was described by Murphy to be as a very aggressive appeal by Scozzafava to bolt from the GOP and switch parties if she wins.  The source continued stating, "I am 100 percent positive that Dede asked Murphy to relay a message to the DCCC: soften up key support and financial backing for Bill Owens in exchange for a promise to caucus with the Democrats if she wins the election."  No one answered Murphy's congressional office phone line when Draft Dede called to confirm the rumor this evening.

In the last several weeks Scozzafava has attended key campaign stops with national Democrats and has toyed with the idea of vying for the Working Families Party line as she has in the past in an attempt to cross-over into key Democrat constituencies.

INDEPENDENCE LINE GOES TO THE DEMOCRATS IN NY-23

~13K Votes for the Taking if DeDe Wants Them

The AP reported today that the “Independence Party pledges to support Democrat in possible race for McHugh's 23rd District seat.”

That was the title. It goes on, “The New York Independence Party is pledging to support a Democrat in the special election for the 23rd Congressional District long held by Republican Rep. John McHugh. Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay tells The Associated Press his influential party will support Democratic state Sen. Darrel Aubertine if he decides to run for the seat representing northern New York. Aubertine is considering a run if McHugh wins confirmation to become Democratic President Barack Obama's secretary of the Army. The Independence Party was important in Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy's narrow victory in a special election in March for the 20th Congressional District, another GOP-dominated Upstate district.”

First, Aubertine likely won’t run. Even if he does, DeDe is still a better Democratic candidate for multiple reasons described at great length on this blog. What this story sounds like to us is another incredible incentive for DeDe to come our way.

If you math is right that would mean almost 13K votes for DeDe right out of the gate. If she ran as a Democrat she would likely also garner supporting from the Working Family line which is close to another 6K. After being named a “non-starter” by the Conservative Party line which holds 9K votes that has to make her decision that much easier. If she runs as a moderate Republican she will surely lose, especially if a third candidate were to run on the Conservative line.

The Watertown Daily Times and some other local papers have been trolling through our site (presumable to dig up some additional research on an upcoming story). Maybe that is when we will find out that laying out the case online was worth all the trouble. However, it has been no trouble at all. We are here to help and support DeDe to make the right decision. At this point we would like to offer a toast: “To victory this fall with DeDe on the Democratic ticket.”

PS – Our public poll on the left hand column is almost finished so if you haven’t had a chance please let us know whether you think DeDe should run as a Democrat. Results will be posted tomorrow.