The campaign of Doug Hoffman has issued a statement announcing that he is formally withdrawing from the race.\u00a0 The move ends a remarkable political adventure that began more than a year ago in the NY23 special election.<\/p>\n
\u201cI entered the 23rd<\/sup> Congressional District race for the good of our nation and to represent the common sense beliefs and values of the voters of upstate New York. Our nation is at a crossroads and it is imperative that on Election Day we wrest control of Congress from Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was never my intention to split the Republican vote in the 23rd<\/sup> District.\u00a0 So today, I withdraw as a candidate from this race.\u00a0 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.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Hoffman offers a clear endorsement of Matt Doheny, the Republican in the contest:<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Doheny and I may have differed on some issues during the course of our primary race. 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<\/sup>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cI want to offer heartfelt thanks to Chairman Mike Long and the New York State Conservative Party,\u00a0to my staff, volunteers and supporters who all worked tirelessly on my campaign. I\u2019d also like to thank everyone who offered me hospitality, warmth and encouragement as I crisscrossed the Congressional District, your generosity of spirit and your belief in our nation was always an inspiration and shall never be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n
orting on its website that Doug Hoffman, the accountant from Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, is dropping out of the NY-23 race.<\/p>\n
Hoffman’s name will still appear on the ballot on the Conservative line; however, Hoffman said Tuesday morning that he wants his supporters to vote for Republican Matt Doheny.<\/p>\n
“Our nation is at a crossroads, and it is imperative that on Election Day we wrest control of Congress from Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority,” Hoffman said in a prepared statement. “It was never my intention to split the Republican vote.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n