Democrat wins House seat in heavily GOP area in NY

[Turborama]

Source: AP

Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) in the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens.

Hoffman has conceded the race.

With 88 percent of the precincts reporting, Owens had 49 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Hoffman. Scozzafava had 6 percent.

The race has been getting national attention, with some calling it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0Vib...

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Seeing as Faux have removed this news from their website, it's probably best if it comes from AP.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Finally some good news tonight. Now I can go to bed!!

[Cha]

2. ...

[Tx4obama]

3. Congratulations CONGRESSMAN OWENS!

This is the first time a dem has won there since the Civil War !!!
This is HUGE news !!!

[katkat]

4. Thank you Dierdre Scozzafava

A victory for sanity. Also, please change parties, you would be welcome here.

[question everything]

5. But the media is talking bout Republicans win big?

This is great! This will show Palin and Pawlenty and Limpdick not to get involved in local elections. Two governors who barely can (could) govern their own states.

Actually, I was thinking that had their candidate won. there would be a great view to watch Palin and Pawlenty butting heads.

[Turborama]

7. Yep, that's the theme all over the Yahoo & Google News aggregators

I hope we see them getting more involved, their fans' rabid insanity can only work in our favor, after all.

[Mz Pip]

21. Comcast too.

Headlines make it seem like Obama lost the friggin election.

Don't remember the media doing this when the Dems won VA and NJ in 2001.

[Arkana]

22. No, because you see, it wasn't important then.

It's ONLY important when Republicans win it. Remember that.

[Frisbee]

6. See below

!

[bjjblackbelt]

8. ...

The question now is, will it matter? I mean the line dividing the parties has blurred and they both seem to follow the same ultimate corporate agenda.

[ps1074]

9. Republicans hold just 2 of the 29 seats in NY

Unbelievable

[Zambero]

10. If the GOP schism causes them to lose in a "safe" district...

.. just imagine what might occur come 2010 if the teabag faction runs 3rd party candidates in multiple districts considered competitive. The quest for "ideological purity" seems to be the loftier goal for the far right, as opposed to accepting any form of moderation within the Republican party. It's also a formula for defeat.

[CTuttle]

11. Ironically, Red State's Erick is calling it a victory...

<a href="http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/11/04/in-ny-23-conse... /"> In NY-23, Conservatives Win

Posted by Erick Erickson</a>

"...The race has now been called for Democrat Bill Owens.

This is a huge win for conservatives.

“Whaaaa. . . ?” you say.

There are two big victories at work in New York’s 23rd Congressional District.

First, the GOP now must recognize it will either lose without conservatives or will win with conservatives. In 2008, many conservatives sat home instead of voting for John McCain. Now, in NY-23, conservatives rallied and destroyed the Republican candidate the establishment chose.

I have said all along that the goal of activists must be to defeat Scozzafava. Doug Hoffman winning would just be gravy. A Hoffman win is not in the cards, but we did exactly what we set out to do — crush the establishment backed GOP candidate."

Delusional or what...?

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Hey Erick, thanks, numbskull. You made the job easier for the Dems

to win there for the first time in over 120 years.

Delusional, indeed.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. K&R for the major story that will be ignored

One more "D" Congressional seat in the House of Representatives! And from a district that has been hardcore (probably Rockefeller type) "R" for over a century.

Meanwhile lunatic fringe M$M exaggerates and overly focuses on 2 states that like my own state of PA, continually rotate governors from either party.

[SOS]

24. NY23 now ignored by M$M

Up until election day, this race was covered obsessively by the cable dorks.
Palin! Pawlenty! Gingrich! Pataki! The right rules the GOP!

Until Owens won.
Now it's irrelevant and coverage has ceased.
It took me an hour of channel surfing this morning to even find out the results.

[zbdent]

13. yeah, but will this get as much media coverage as traditionally GOP Virginia

being "swept" by the GOP ... especially when the Dem announced that he will oppose the HCR ...

[SpiralHawk]

14. "Hooray." - Americans

eom

[SpiralHawk]

15. "Whine. Lie. Whine." - Republicon Homelanders

as usual

[AngryOldDem]

16. This is being seriously underplayed this morning.

To my mind, this was the most important race of the day.

As the media gloats over Jersey and Virginia, I think they're missing the bigger story.

[fasttense]

17. Palin and Limpballs lost. It is clear that Americans, even Republicons,

Don't like to be pushed around by big name political operatives.

[Odin2005]

18. BWAHAHAHA!!! Take that you teabagger sumbags!

[4dsc]

19. Rightie claims Owens is another Blue Dog

who will give Pelosi fits.. I explained he still belonged to the democratic party..

[Mz Pip]

20. I'll take a Blue Dog

over Palin/Limpballs/Bachmann endorsed wingnut any day.

[mstinamotorcity]

23. you go boy!!!!!

Congrats Mr. Owens wish you all the best hope you stay true to the cause.