The annual Election Day Spagetti Supper at The Cathedral Academy at Our Lady of Pompei in Syracuse was filled with anyone and just about everyone involved in Onondaga County politics today. It is not in the 23rd Congressional district, and no one there was running for that seat either. But everyone at the supper was talking about one of the most riveting elections in the country, an election happening less than an hour away from Syracuse.
Rather than backing the Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, conservatives put up Doug Hoffman for the job and attacked Scozzafava as a liberal. Trailing in the polls, she dropped out over the weekend and backed the Democrat, Bill Owens.
"The impression was that she was doing this (dropping out) for the party. Republican Andrew Russo. He said he will run for state Senate next year. “It's a confusing action and I really don't understand it."
The controversy in the 23rd district concerns some Republicans about the strength of the national G.O.P.
“It makes the Republican Party seem like it doesn't have room for dissenting voices." Kevin Kuehner, a Republican running for the 16th district seat in the Onondaga County Legislature, said. Hoffman should not have been in the race, Kuehner, who is also a part-time Professor at SU, said.
County Legislator Mark A. Stancyk (D-Syracuse), said Scozzafava was wronged by her party, "The Republicans harpooned her."
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