SCOZZAFAVA BOWS OUT

The battle lines are swiftly being redrawn after Republican candidate Dierdre K. Scozzafava suspended her campaign for the 23rd Congressional District early Saturday and released her supporters "to transfer their support as they see fit."

Many labor unions that supported Ms. Scozzafava — including one led by her husband — have switched to backing Democratic candidate William L. Owens, while the National Republican Congressional Committee and most local political parties are turning to Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman.

Mr. Owens and Mr. Hoffman were locked in a statistical dead heat for the seat, according to a Siena Research Institute poll released Saturday morning. The poll, which put Ms. Scozzafava trailing by 15 points, led to her decision.

As of late Saturday evening, Ms. Scozzafava, still a sitting state assemblywoman, had not endorsed either of her opponents.

"Today, I again seek to act for the good of our community," she wrote in a letter to friends and supporters. "I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger and our district and our nation can take an important step toward restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations."

Mr. Owens applauded Ms. Scozzafava for her service.

"Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava has been an honorable public servant for years now and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her and her commitment to her principles," Mr. Owens said in a statement.

"While we disagree on certain issues, we share a dedication to serving the best interests of upstate New York and the Obama administration's efforts to get our economy back on track."

Mr. Hoffman said in a statement, "This morning's events prove what we have said for the last week; this campaign is a horse race between me and Nancy Pelosi's handpicked candidate, Bill Owens."

Siena pollster Steven A. Greenberg said the challenge will now be in deciphering which way Ms. Scozzafava's supporters vote. She garnered 20 percent of support in the poll of likely voters and there were 9 percent undecided.

"It's about one-third of the electorate — what do they do?" he said.

Ms. Scozzafava remains on the ballots, so come Tuesday, voters have to decide among the three candidates or, as Mr. Greenberg noted, stay home.

"Conventional wisdom would say they would go to the more conservative candidate," Mr. Greenberg said. "This race has been anything but conventional. Someone who makes a prediction now has as good a chance being wrong as right."

The two remaining active candidates were quick to snatch endorsements from those who had backed Ms. Scozzafava.

Unions flocked to Mr. Owens. He gained the support of Region 9 of the United Auto Workers, East Syracuse, and the New York State AFL-CIO.

AFL-CIO President Denis M. Hughes said, "Hoffman is not in any way supportive of trade unions."

Mr. Hughes said the union would be doing everything possible to encourage members to vote Tuesday. The union has 80,000 members and families in the district.

"We're going to put extra effort to get in touch with our members," he said. "We will up our traditional get-out-the-vote operation."

The Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades and Labor Council also endorsed Mr. Owens late Saturday. Union President Ronald P. McDougall is Ms. Scozzafava's husband.

"This has been a difficult day for my family. But the needs and concerns of the men and women of the 23rd Congressional District remain paramount," Mr. McDougall said in a statement. "As such, I wholeheartedly and without reservation endorse the candidacy of Bill Owens."

The New York State United Teachers union, which has nearly 30,000 members in the 11-county district, is expected to endorse Mr. Owens today.

"The members will be working from the banks and ringing doorbells," said union spokesman Carl D. Korn. "Over the next 72 hours, we will contact members and ask for their support."

United Steelworkers Local 450A and 420, representing Alcoa's Massena East and West plants, respectively, endorsed Mr. Owens earlier this week.

The National Republican Congressional Committee and Republican National Committee endorsed Mr. Hoffman on Saturday afternoon. Local party committees were, at least tacitly, following suit.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele called Ms. Scozzafava's move "selfless" in a statement.

"Effective immediately, the RNC will endorse and support the conservative candidate in the race, Doug Hoffman," he said. "Doug's campaign will receive the financial backing of the RNC, and get-out-the-vote efforts to defeat Bill Owens on Tuesday."

St. Lawrence County Republican Committee Chairwoman Nancy K. Martin said the loyalty to Ms. Scozzafava was still very strong and she expected many people to vote for her anyway.

"Dede has done much for the people of the north country," she said.

But she had to defend the Republican Party, she said, and encourage people to not vote for Mr. Owens.

"It's important that we vote for a candidate who will fight the damaging policies of Nancy Pelosi," Mrs. Martin said. "It's important that we vote for a candidate that protects the taxpayers and supports policies that will turn the economy around. I would ask the people of the north country to vote their conscience."

Lewis County Republican Committee Chairman Samuel F. Villanti said, "Right now, I can't see any reason why Lewis County wouldn't support Hoffman."

He said it's late in the game to put together a large get-out-the-vote drive.

"I have a feeling people are getting telephone called to death," he said.

Several calls to Jefferson County Republican Committee Chairman Donald G.M. Coon III were not returned as of late Saturday.

The state Independence Party endorsed Mr. Owens on Saturday, just one day after the Jefferson County Independence Party decided to pull its support from Ms. Scozzafava and back Mr. Hoffman.

Ms. Scozzafava's name will still appear on the Independence line on Tuesday's ballot. The state Independence Party has more than 19,000 enrolled members in the district.

A Republican loss in the 23rd would leave the party with two seats in the state's congressional delegation. Some local party and union leaders were unhappy with the outside involvement of the conservative wing of the Republican Party.

"They're trying to bang 435 elections across the United States into the same mold," said James Ellis, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party. "It's a detriment to democracy."

The Siena poll was the final straw that led to Ms. Scozzafava suspending her campaign. The poll showed her falling to third with support from 20 percent of the 704 likely voters who responded via telephone on Tuesday through Thursday.

Mr. Owens had support from 36 percent of likely voters, with Mr. Hoffman right at his heels with 35 percent.

Ms. Scozzafava said in her statement, "The reality that I've come to accept is that in today's political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money — and as I've been outspent on both sides, I've been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record."

Mr. Greenberg, the Siena pollster, said about 20 percent of Ms. Scozzafava's voters had negative opinions of both the other candidates.

"It will be a fascinating 72 hours," he said. "And it will be fascinating to look at what happens after the fact."

Times wire services contributed to this report.