GOP SPLIT IN N.Y. GOES NATIONAL - AT 10:46 A.M. ET:  Several readers have asked about the special election for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District, where the establishment GOP candidate, who's pretty far out in left field for a Republican, is being challenged by a Conservative Party candidate who's gaining national Republican endorsements.  This could be the first step in a major split within the Republican Party.  The Politico reports:

Some of the most prominent names in national Republican Party politics are lining up against the GOP nominee in a key upstate New York House special election, the latest being former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who weighed in Friday.

In endorsing Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman in the Nov. 3 contest, Santorum joined former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, all of whom announced their backing for the conservative third-party candidate this week.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty suggested Friday that he might be the next well-known Republican to break with the party establishment and support Hoffman. When asked about the race Friday during an interview with ABC, he expressed frustration with GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava and said he will “probably” endorse in the race.

The GOP establishment didn't see this coming, and is reacting in strange ways.  Apparently, cops were called during a Scozzafava rally when a reporter dared to ask the candidate a question.

Scozzafava, a state assemblywoman who supports gay marriage, abortion rights and has a close relationship with leading labor officials in her region, has been the target of sustained criticism from conservatives who claim that she is so liberal that they cannot in good conscience support her candidacy. As evidence, they point to her unofficial endorsement from the leading liberal blog Daily Kos.

Yes, she's that bad.  How did she get to be the Republican nominee?  Well, she has a lot of friends in the party, and they vote.  And hubby is a major labor leader.

In fairness, we should point out that she does have the support of some conservatives, including Newt Gingrich.  Other conservatives are shying away from the race entirely.

Right now, though, it appears that the split in the party may well elect the Democratic candidate.

October 25, 2009