According to this newspaper story, the totals for the special U.S. House election on November 3 are now: Bill Owens (Democratic, Working Families) 66,698; Doug Hoffman (Conservative) 63,672. The story does not give an updated total for the third candidate in the race, Dede Scozzafava (Republican, Independence). There are still approximately 10,000 absentee votes to be counted. Thanks to Rick Hasen’s ElectionLawBlog for the link.
“Dewey defeats Truman”? Possible?
Although it seems unlikely that Hoffman could make up a 3,000 vote difference with 10,000 votes remaining, what happens if he does? I’m not sure the law is that clear regarding a member who has already been sworn in. I believe a member can only be removed by a vote of the House, no?
I do not know if the three polling places that recorded zero votes for Hoffman have been updated and caculated into the new total(3,000+). There seems to be 5200 absentee votes to be counted (10,000 absentee ballots were requested). Hoffman needs to win a vast majority of these. Hoffman also needs a closer recanvansing count, he can’t win with just the outstanding ballots. Good luck, Doug.
Good luck, Doug? Are you nuts? Do you remember where things stood a year ago? The entire global financial syatem was on the brink of collapse. If guys like “Doug” had been in charge we would be in a Depression worse than the 1930s. Fortunately, they weren’t, so we have a very bad recession instead. Good? No, but a whole lot better than what could have been.
Besides, Hoffman doesn’t even live in the district and has no knowledge of local issues. Stop listening to Rush and Beck, and have a good look around.
There should also be provisional ballots, yes?
It should not be legal to swear in a candidate until all the votes are counted or at least the number of outstanding vote is less than the difference.
#4- I actually do not listen to Rush, I don’t care for Republican mouthpieces, and did not vote for Bush or McCain. Reid, Pelosi and Bush is where we stood one year ago. I love those who listen to Maddow and Olberman talk about Hoffman not living in the district, were silent about John Garemendi out in California not living in the district. Remember Democrat good, Republican bad, Republican good, Democrat bad. Cheer for the home team~
#7-I don’t watch any of those people. I live just outside the district and got my informatiom from local newspapers and local TV. Hoffman’s command of local issues was very unimpressive. As for the guy in California, I can’t speak about his command of local issues.
It is rather strange that with 500,000 or so people in a district, all parties can’t find decent candidates who actually live there.
Then we are in agreement. If someone diasgrees with you it doesn’t mean that they are a Rush dittohead. So when you say “have a good look around” maybe you should take your own advise. Just some constructive criticism (:
Best regards~
OK, drop the last sentence in #4. I stand by the rest. Hoffman et al’s policies would have turned the Great Recession we are in now into the Great Depression 2. He’s bad news.
Richard,
Is there anyway to find out how the absentee ballots from 2008 broke down along party lines in the NY 23rd?
The story has a link to county by county returns that show Owens 66,698; Hoffman 63,672; Scozzafava 6,485.
The Conservative line beat the Democratic line; and it appears that the Working Families line beat the Republican line (a couple of counties merged the parties for a single candidate together).
Owens plurality in his Clinton County (his home county) is about the same as his district plurality, and he won the northeastern part of the district, while Owen led in southern and western parts of the district, though by somewhat lesser margins.
John Garamendi was the best candidate and I am very glad that he won.
How does one get sworn in before the vote is certified??
I think Owens has already been sworn.
He has, but the vote hasn’t been certified, how does that happen??
I believe Owens’ swearing in was possible because Hoffman conceded. Hoffman has also critized Pelosi for swearing in Owens before the vote was certified.
You can see a portion of an interview Neil Cavuto did with Hoffman on this issue here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zlg0GR84Jo&feature=player_embedded
That should have been “criticized.” So far as I know, “critized” is not a word.