The way the American political system has revolved is that there are two major dominant political parties the Democrats and the Republicans that for the last one hundred and fifty years have supplied the country's Presidents and most of it's Congressmen and Senators.

The selection of Congressional candidates is through a "primary election" in the 435 districts in the bi-annual events except in the case of a "special election" to present candidates to fill-out a Congressman's term as in the New York State District 23 where Representative John McHugh was appointed Secretary of the Army by President Obama that caused the need for the November 3rd, 2009 election.

Under New York State Election Law the Republican Committeemen of the 23rd Congressional District selected State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava to be the Republican candidate which caused a lot of dissension among prominent national Republicans who endorsed another Republican Doug Hoffman (who was selected as the Conservative Party's candidate, the CP is what is referred to as a "third party.")

Former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin and current governor Tim Pawlenty of Wisconsin endorsed Doug Hoffman, the Conservative candidate while former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich endorsed the Republican Committeemen's candidate Dede Scozzafava who was criticized as being too "liberal" on the "social issues," even more so than Bill Owens, the Democratic Party candidate (who are generally more liberal than the Republicans.)

All three of the Republican endorsers are potential presidential candidates in 2012.

Newt Gingrich said of his support for the more "moderate" Republican, Dede Scozzafava "If you seek to be a perfect minority, you'll remain a minority."

 Sarah Palin praised Doug Hoffman on her facebook page, and:

"All the other under-dog candidates who have the courage to put themselves out there and run against the odds. The race for New York's 23 District is not over just postponed until 2010. The issues of this election have always centered on the economy- on the need for fiscal restraint, smaller government, and policies that encourage jobs, in 2010, these issues will be even more crucial to the electorate."

Democratic Party candidate Bill Owens is a lawyer and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman is an accountant and was the controller of the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. 

Let the Games Begin

Voter Registration in New York Congressional District 23:

Republican:         167,272

Democrat:          120,887

Independent:       19,619 (No party declared)

Conservative:         5,561

Workers Family:       1,482

Libertarian:                      77

Total:                  392,006

November 3, Election Results;

Democrat:                  63,496    Bill Owens

Conservative:            58,161    Doug Hoffman

Republican:                   7,137     Dede Scozzafava

Total Voters:             128,688  

Did Not Vote:          163,318 

This made the Democratic Party 2 for 2 in Congressional Special elections as the one in California was also successful. President Obama had won the majority Republican voter registration district in 2008 52% to 47% for Senator John McCain.

 There were 10,200 Absentee ballots which would be mostly votes for the "Republican" candidate (as older, more contientious voters are more likely to vote Republican) as they were cast before Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race and asked her supporters to vote for the Democrat! causing conservative writers to criticize her again for her "liberal" positions, (they were right.) 

Dick Armey, "Freedom Works" Washington, DC lobbying group that promoted the National Mall "Tea Party" 9-12 March On DC and another lobbying company, "The Club For Growth" brought over $1 million to the 2nd largest Congressional district, geographically, in the US that is mostly rural.

As this had become a contest that was on the 6:30 PM broadcast News and Cable TV political commentary programs we are thinking that the many outside news broadcasting trucks and crews that came into the district and the constant "Robo Calls" to voters' phones "turned-off" the 60 percent that did not vote, as they do not like "outsiders" telling them what they should do.