Hoffman camp releases survey, claims near tie with Owens for second place to leader Scozzafava

PLATTSBURGH — A poll of the 23rd Congressional District race shows a relatively close battle so far.

On Wednesday, Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman released polling data that his campaign tallied in recent weeks.

The numbers show Republican candidate Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava with 30 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat William Owens at 20 percent and Hoffman with 19 percent.

Undecided voters represent 31 percent of the vote.

Even though he is last, Hoffman, an accountant from Lake Placid, believes the numbers reflect a good start for a relatively unknown third-party candidate.

"This poll shows what I have felt in my gut; voters in the 23rd District want a conservative Republican representing them in Washington," Hoffman said.

"I'm a common-sense conservative who shares a set of beliefs that are in tune with the voters — beliefs that run counter to the two liberals in this race, Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens.

"This poll proves I can win," Hoffman said, "and in the weeks ahead I plan to bring my message of fiscal responsibility, small government and less taxes to the voters of the district."

3OO POLLED
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates of Blauvelt, a nationally recognized pollster and part of Hoffman's campaign team.

The survey reached out to 300 likely voters Aug. 25 and 26.

The accuracy of the poll is plus or minus 5.7 percent with a 95-percent confidence level.

The Hoffman camp has been painting Scozzafava, who supports gay marriage and is pro-choice, as too liberal to be the Republican candidate.

Scozzafava is an assemblywoman from St. Lawrence County.

Hoffman sought the GOP nod, along with seven other candidates, but was not chosen.

TRUST ISSUE
Scozzafava's camp said Hoffman can't be trusted because, among other items, he went back on his word to support Scozzafava.

"His pollster should be asking: Would you support Doug Hoffman ... if you knew he previously supported a multi-million-dollar taxpayer-funded bailout and says he would again; or if you knew just today he gave the media one answer on his position on civil unions and sought campaign contributions and an endorsement by giving another; or if you knew he didn't even live in the 23rd Congressional District," Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns said.

"This pollster also should have asked about Bill Owens wanting to tax health-care benefits and the fact Owens has yet to state whether he'd support robbing seniors to pay for the Obama/Pelosi big-government agenda."

'POLITICS'
Owens's campaign denounced the poll as partisan politics.

"Our campaign is moving forward and staying focused on talking to voters about Bill's record on creating jobs and his vision to bring economic development to northern and central New York," campaign spokesman Brad Katz said.

"That will remain our focus, regardless of what a partisan poll says about the candidates."

Owens is a Plattsburgh attorney.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took the opportunity to attack Scozzafava.

"Even partisan Republican polling has Assemblywoman Scozzafava in trouble," committee spokesman Shripal Shah said.

"The Albany politician, who has represented a large part of the district in the State Assembly, is simply not viewed well by her own constituents, and her weak support demonstrates their dissatisfaction with her record.

"While Bill Owens has spent his entire career helping create jobs, Dede Scozzafava is clearly seen as part of the mess that is Albany, and voters are wary of her candidacy as a result."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com