In reversal, Hoffman says he does not want to split the vote in three-way race.
Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in New York's 23rd district, dropped out of the race today. He is shown here conceding the special election for the seat last year at his campaign headquarters in Saranac Lake.Washington -- Doug Hoffman, who helped ignite the national Tea Party movement last year but whose second bid for Congress fell flat, withdrew from the race today in the 23rd Congressional District.
Hoffman lost the Republican primary to Matt Doheny on Sept, 14 but insisted he would stay in the race on the Conservative Party line.
After repeated suggestions that he would only be a spoiler and hand the election to U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, Hoffman said today he would step aside.
"It was never my intention to split the Republican vote in the 23rd District," Hoffman said in a statement. "So today, I withdraw as a candidate from this race. Under New York State Election Law my name cannot be removed from the Conservative Party line on the ballot. However, I strongly urge and request that my supporters not vote for me and certainly not vote for the Democrat or Working Families Party candidate."
Hoffman also endorsed Doheny, who he long criticized as too "liberal" and a Wall Street insider out of touch with the 23rd District.
"Matt Doheny and I may have differed on some issues during the course of our primary race," Hoffman said. "Now, we must put those differences aside and do what is best for our nation. So today, I am asking all my supporters to cast their vote for Matt Doheny on Election Day, November 2nd."
Doheny welcomed Hoffman's support: "Doug Hoffman deserves a round of applause from everyone across the 23rd who want to see this Congressional seat back in conservative, Republican hands," Doheny said. "And he deserves a round of applause from the voters across this nation who will bring fiscal sanity back to Washington, D.C. by electing a Republican House majority in November."
Doheny added, "I thank Doug for carrying the conservative torch in the 23rd, and am deeply appreciative that today he has passed that torch to me."
Doheny,who was in Watertown this morning, planned to travel to Syracuse at 4 p.m. to address the media.
Since the primary, Hoffman has seen some of his base move to Doheny. Leaders of the Upstate New York Tea Party said they would switch their personal endorsements to Doheny. A formal vote of the full group was still being tabulated.
Contact Washington correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.