As race closes in, party moods take a turn

American Legion Post 20 in Plattsburgh was jam-packed with Democratic Party leaders and supporters waiting for William L. Owens, Democratic and Working Families candidate for the 23rd Congressional District.

Excitement and nervous tension rippled through the crowd. Few were willing to predict the outcome of the race.

But at 11:50 p.m., when Fox News called the race, the crowd gave a collective cheer. They shouted with glee again 20 minutes later, when Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman conceded.

Mr. Owens arrived soon after and State Democratic Committee Chairwoman June F. O'Neill warmed up the crowd.

"The real joy in life is doing what others say you cannot do," she said.

While the supporters were waiting, Patrick J. Sullivan, Plattsburgh, talked about the race.

Mr. Sullivan, a community organizer with Service Employees International Union Local 1199, said they rely on grants for energy and health care.

"With Doug Hoffman's agreement to not accept earmarks, the question of what we will do remains," he said. "It will put us back in the Stone Age."

Mrs. O'Neill downplayed the assertion the 23rd race was a referendum on President Barack Obama's policies.

"It's just Republicans trying to change the conversation," she said. "I think people see it for what it is. This race might have national implications, but it also has local implications, and I live here."

Clinton County Democratic Committee Chairman Martin D. Mannix Jr. downplayed the intense attention the race received.

"The national media attention this race has gotten has nothing to do with the 23rd District or the candidates," he said. "It has everything to do with the bloodletting in the Republican Party."

Republican candidate Dierdre K. Scozzafava, who dropped out Saturday, had a quiet Election Day. She said she voted in the afternoon, then watched results in Gouverneur.

"I'm just hanging out at the bowling alley," she said Tuesday night. "I am interested in the local races."

At the Hoffman camp at Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake, supporters nervously gathered around television sets, watching early election numbers as they came in.

"The mere fact that we put Dede Scozzafava out of the race is a success story in itself," said Jim Kelly, Conservative Party member from Lake Placid. "We're not ready to give in, but she's clearly the loser."

While campaign officials and media from around the country checked their laptops and cell phones for results, two women sat in armchairs in the corner of the ballroom, with their hands over their mouths.

Dorice M. Torrance, Mr. Hoffman's mother-in-law, was watching the results with her sister, Shirley W. Seney. The ecstatic mood that they had entered the event with had abated somewhat as Mr. Hoffman fell behind Mr. Owens.

"When he wins, he's going to be the first guy from this area to go to Washington," said Mrs. Seney. "He's making history for all of us. It's 'Mr. Hoffman Goes to Washington.'"

Mr. Hoffman's daughter, Ashleah H. Mayberry, and her husband, Daniel J., said they were cautiously optimistic.

"Hopefully this Dede thing didn't cost him the race. His views are what our views are. I call this the fightin' 23rd," said William A. Foley of Tupper Lake, who has known Mr. Hoffman for years through their classic car club.

Hank Ford, the Conservative Party chairman for St. Lawrence County, shifted around as he watched the results with his wife.

"I wouldn't bet on anything right now," he said. "The margin of error is the vote (Dede's) getting."

James W. Marshall, Rainbow Lake, volunteered for the Hoffman campaign.

"I'm still excited about the chance he has," said James W. Marshall, a Hoffman campaign volunteer from Rainbow Lake. "Even if Doug doesn't pull this off, it's going to wake up a lot of people."

Late into the night, campaign officials said they weren't ready to give up because of the number of absentee ballots.

"There are a bunch of big question marks. At this point, we don't know. There are 10,000 paper ballots out there. I mean, that's huge," spokesman Robert H. Ryan said.

The crowd was shocked to see Mr. Hoffman behind the whole night. And they were stunned to see him concede.

"They called us radicals," Mr. Hoffman said during his concession speech. "Boy, if we're radicals — I think it's just common sense. Unfortunately, common sense is not too common anymore."

Several men in the crowd shouted, "We will fight back!" as Mr. Hoffman wrapped up his speech and his campaign, which he called a battle to "take back America."

Times staff writer Nancy Madsen contributed to this report.