Indys, Republicans making it official for Scozzafava

Jeff Graham, Watertown's city mayor and likely the north country's best known Independence Party member, called to report that his party's executive committee unanimously designated Dede Scozzafava as their candidate for the 23rd Congressional District seat this morning.

Mr. Graham said he made the motion to nominate, with former Lewis County manager Joe Baruth making the second. It was all done via conference call. All that's left is filing the paperwork with the state Board of Elections.

The Republican Party is one step of the Indys, filing their paperwork today. They also picked Ms. Scozzafava.

Here's what the candidate had to say about that: "I am proud to be the only endorsed Republican candidate in this campaign."

This, of course, is alluding to the fact that Doug Hoffman, the Conservative candidate, is actually a registered Republican. His new commercial, which was unveiled this morning, touts his GOP connections in an equally subtle attempt to "kick" Ms. Scozzafava "in the shins."

In the case of the Independence Party, this morning's action was completely expected, since party Chairman Frank MacKay said in July that the party would back Ms. Scozzafava after their first choice, Darrel Aubertine, decided not to run.

The mayor said he exchanged hi-how-are-yous with Mr. MacKay during the call. It was the pair's first conversation since February 2008, when Mr. MacKay accused Mr. Graham of trying to use the party's endorsement in the 48th Senate District special to secure a patronage job. Local IP members said the claim was bogus and the fervor over it died within a week. But Mr. Graham consequently decided to conduct all his party business through Tom Connolly, the state IP vice-chairman.

Mr. Graham said "there was no acrimony" during the call, but said he'd probably continue dealing primarily with Mr. Connolly nevertheless.