Drama Continues as Republican Scozzafava Endorses Democrat Bill Owens After Exiting N.Y. Congressional Race

The upstate New York 23rd Congressional District seat drama continues as Republican Dede Scozzafava endorsed her former Democratic opponent Bill Owens, just one day after she exited the race under pressure from the GOP and after Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman experienced a late-stage surge in the polls. The move was widely expected to consolidate GOP voters behind Hoffman, but that may not be a forgone conclusion at this point. 

Scozzafava backed Owens in a statement put out by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which read,

"I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same," she said. "In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first."

The seat formerly held by Republican John McHugh, who was lured away by the Obama administration to be Army secretary.  Though it is not clear what impact her endorsement will have on the outcome of the election, it is interesting, nonetheless to see that drama continue to play out, even after Sarah Palin openly endorsed Hoffman over Scozzafava. She was criticized by members of her party for being too moderate on social issues.