Hoffman offered to support Scozzafava

Douglas L. Hoffman pledged to help his political rival, Dierdre K. Scozzafava, in her quest for the 23rd Congressional District seat, despite later telling multiple media outlets he never made such a promise.

Before becoming the Conservative Party's candidate, Mr. Hoffman sent an e-mail to Ms. Scozzafava on July 24. Two days earlier, GOP leaders had picked Ms. Scozzafava over Mr. Hoffman and seven other hopefuls.

"Hi Dede. Congratulations and the best of luck in your candidacy," Mr. Hoffman wrote in the letter. "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Doug."

After Mr. Hoffman began courting the Conservative nomination, he was criticized by the district's Republican county chairmen for allegedly reneging on a vow to back the party's choice.

"I never promised that I would support Dede Scozzafava," the Lake Placid accountant said during an Aug. 5 press conference. "I did indicate that I would be happy to support a conservative Republican candidate, especially if it wasn't me."

The candidate concluded: "It never occurred to me that the party would pick the only liberal in the race."

Mr. Hoffman was asked Monday, through his spokesman, to explain the discrepancy between his e-mail and his public statement. Robert H. Ryan, his spokesman, replied: "Like most Republicans, Doug Hoffman had no idea how liberal Dede Scozzafava is."

James T. Ellis, the state Republican Party's regional vice chairman for nine of the 11 counties in the 23rd District, organized the four meetings where the candidates made their case for the nomination. Mr. Ellis said Mr. Hoffman would "certainly" have known Ms. Scozzafava's positions on social and fiscal issues after the four meetings together.

"He heard as much as I heard," the vice chairman said.

There also were dozens of accounts in newspapers, on television and on the Internet detailing Ms. Scozzafava's opinion on issues on which the two rivals disagree, such as abortion rights and gay marriage.

Three days after Mr. Hoffman offered to help Ms. Scozzafava, he met with state Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long to express his desire to run against her.

Besides Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Scozzafava, the race includes William L. Owens, a Plattsburgh attorney running on the Democratic line. The three are running for the seat recently vacated by Rep. John M McHugh, now secretary of the Army. No date for a special election to fill the seat has been announced.