Dick Armey to endorse 3rd party candidate over Republican in NY House race

The special election to fill New York's vacant 23rd congressional seat is perhaps the earliest test of the GOP's chances to reclaim the House in 2010. Yet the GOP candidate, Dede Scozzafava, has struggled to line up Republican support, and has taken a pummeling from conservative groups that assert she's liberal. The Club for Growth and Eagle Forum, among others, support her opponent, Doug Hoffman, who's running on the Conservative Party ticket.

Add North Texas' Dick Armey to the list of conservative stars backing Hoffman. The former House Majority Leader has confirmed to the Hoffman campaign that he'll spend Thursday with them, said Rob Ryan, a Hoffman spokesman. "He is with us almost all day Thursday," Ryan told me. "There will be a bunch of different events." Armey's endorsement of Hoffman is personal and wasn't offered on behalf of FreedomWorks, the conservative foundation he chairs.

Armey's support is a counterpunch to Scozzafava's latest endorsement, from former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The move is another example of Armey's willingness to buck his party when he disapproves of the GOP candidate's conservative credentials. In Florida, for instance, Armey endorsed former state House Speaker Marco Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist. The two Republicans are vying to replace former Sen. Mel Martinez, who resigned and became a lobbyist (interestingly, Martinez joined the same law firm, DLA Piper, that Armey quit in August, after complaints about his dual role as a lobbyist and grassroots campaigner.)

Armey's profile is higher than ever, thanks to his leadership of FreedomWorks and outreach to tea party groups. His endorsement of Hoffman is bound to cause headaches for establishment Republicans such as Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee and has had to defend his support of Scozzafava to conservative groups. Some Republicans are already worried that tea party activists may lead a revolt against incumbent Republicans who supported last year's TARP bailout. "We're not a partisan organization, and I think many Republicans are disappointed we are not," Armey told Politico recently.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/10/dick-armey-to-endorse-3rd-part.html

That's what I want to know. I do think the goal should be to have no Republicans in the delegation after 2012.

trying to maintain an aura of legitimacy and promote the concept that it is a movement independent of the GOP?

Usually, they endorse the candidates of the Democrats and Republicans, but voters can express some discontent with the major parties by voting on the third party line (the candidates get the total number of votes cast for them regardless of party.) In the 1970s James Buckley (William F's brother) was elected US Senator on the Conservative line.

SInce New York's political system is unique, it's hard to say just what this may mean about the effects of the teabagger wing in other states.

will be toast for the long term.

I have always thought "Dick Armey" would make a great name for a punk band lol.