Conservative splits GOP in N.Y. congressional race

Despite siphoning critical support away from official Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, the candidate at the heart of the GOP civil war in upstate New York shrugs off warnings that he'll cost Republicans a House seat long held by the party.

Polls give Democrat Bill Owens a slight lead, with Mr. Hoffman and Mrs. Scozzafava trailing and apparently splitting the conservative vote in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

"Since I'm the only conservative candidate in this race, I think that Bill Owens and Dede have to be concerned about splitting the liberal vote," Mr. Hoffman said defiantly in an interview.

The political newcomer, an accountant who was all but anonymous three months ago, is running in the special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by nine-term Republican Rep. John M. McHugh, in a race that has become the first national test of the electoral clout of the anti-tax "tea party" movement.

"The reason I stepped up was not only to stop this big government and higher taxes. I'm stepping up to save the heart and soul of the Republican Party," Mr. Hoffman said. "I think there are a lot of average citizens like me around the country who are worried about this excess spending, worried about government taking over our liberties."

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