State Republican Party Chair comments on Scozzafava
News over the weekend of Republican Dede Scozzafava suspending her campaign and eventually throwing her support behind her one-time Democratic opponent shook many state Republicans. Our Mike Whittemore has more on what the State Republican Party Chair says is in for Scozzafava's future in politics.
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NEW YORK STATE -- Now that Election Day is behind us, the question remains -- what will become of Dede Scozzafava, the republican candidate in the race for the 23rd Congressional District?
The Assemblywoman dropped out of the running just days before the election, after public opinion polls found her trailing both her opponents by double digits. During an exclusive interview on Capital Tonight, State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox says he talked to a tearful Scozzafava shortly after she decided to suspend her campaign.
"I called her. She was sobbing, she was sobbing. She was concerned about losing her seat in the Assembly. I assured her that wouldn't happen," Cox said.
Then, in a surprise move, Scozzafava endorsed Democrat Bill Owens instead of Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, who'd received the backing of the state and national Republican Party, a move Cox initially characterized as a betrayal, calling into question whether she would be welcomed back to the Republican ranks. But he backed off those comments, saying she was under tremendous pressure from powerful Democratic leaders on the state and national stage.
"If under that amount of pressure, she, under those conditions, she decided she wanted to endorse Bill Owens and she wants to remain a Republican and she says I made a mistake or whatever. I don't know. I'm going to leave that up to her and the caucus in the Assembly," Cox said.
For now, it remains to be seen whether Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb will accept Scozzafava back into the Republican fold or whether she will change her party affiliation. She has already received an invitation to join New York's Independence Party. We may find out what's next for the North Country politician next week when the legislature returns to Albany to a special session.