Dede Drops Out in NY-23

UPDATE: Scozzafava has now formerly endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. El DIABLO strikes. Turns out Scozzafava has even less integrity than I gave her credit for.

The RINO sleeps tonight. The very liberal Republican chosen by the local GOP to run in the NY-23 special election has dropped out at the last minute:

Dede Scozzafava, the Republican and Independence parties candidate, announced Saturday that she is suspending her campaign for the 23rd Congressional District and releasing all her supporters.

The state Assemblywoman has not thrown her support to either Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, or Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate.

"Today, I again seek to act for the good of our community," Ms. Scozzafava wrote in a letter to friends and supporters. "It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger and our district and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations."

I wonder how many absentee ballots were wasted on Scozzafava before today, or how many people voted for her because of the (R) after her name without knowing anything about her?

This makes the election on Tuesday all the more interesting. The latest polls show Doug Huffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (Democrat) essentially tied. I suppose some Dede supporters could either sit out or support Owens as a spite vote against Hoffman and all the celebrity conservative politicians who supported him, such as Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson and Tim Pawlenty. We'll see.

UPDATE: The Corner gets a comment from Rush Limbaugh:

“Hmmm... I thought the Era of Reagan was over? Who was it that said that? Oh yeah, the smart people on our side who told us the only way we could win was with moderate/liberal candidates like Scozzafava. Hmmm...”

UPDATE 2: Newt endorses Hoffman after vigorously supporting Dede throughout the campaign.

UPDATE 3: Analysis from Politico:

At least more than half of her voters go to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava was polling at 20 percent -- a mix of moderate Republicans and some indies, meaning both sides have a chance to pick them up. National Dems are going to work to get Scozzafava to endorse the Democrat, Bill Owens. "If we don't get her on board, we lose," a senior Democrat said. Top GOP strategist: "Republicans and independents will now be able to unite behind one candidacy. Dede's last base of support was among Republican loyalists. They likely overwhelmingly switch to Hoffman."

I don't think Dede will make an endorsement either way. She claims to be a proud Republican, so supporting a third party wouldn't make any more sense than supporting a Democrat. And an endorsement of the Democrat would just confirm the criticisms that drove her out of the race in the first place.

UPDATE: According to local reports, Scozzafava is urging supporters to vote for Democrat Owens. Imagine my surprise.