Hoffman's 'miracle' not likely as votes counted
Conservative Party candidate Douglas L. Hoffman chipped away at Rep. William L. Owens's lead in the 23rd Congressional District race as a quarter of absentee ballots were tabulated Tuesday. But Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava is far exceeding her showing on Election Day, making the Lake Placid accountant's chances of a "miracle" comeback almost impossible.
Mr. Hoffman added 814 absentees votes to his 65,787 at the ballot box, but still trails Mr. Owens by 2,959 votes. There are 5,570 absentee votes in eight of the 11 counties still left to be counted.
Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, added 597 absentee votes Tuesday to his 68,963 on Election Day. Ms. Scozzafava, Gouverneur, added 438 absentee votes to her previous total of 6,893.
Ms. Scozzafava suspended her campaign three days before Election Day, driving down her totals at the ballot box. The late decision, however, appears not to have hurt her standing among absentee voters. The Republican assemblywoman has taken 23.7 percent of those votes so far.
Ms. Scozzafava's stronger showing among absentee voters appears to have negatively affected Mr. Owens the most. The Democrat took 48.7 percent of the vote on Election Day, but 32.3 percent of the absentee vote so far.
But Mr. Hoffman so far has been unable to capitalize, earning 44 percent of absentee votes after receiving 46.4 percent support on Election Day.
If the current distributions hold, Mr. Owens will win the race by more than 2,300 votes. He was leading unofficially on election night by 5,335 votes, although a districtwide recanvass before absentee votes were counted showed that lead to be actually 3,176 votes.
Mr. Hoffman told conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Monday that he was a "long shot" to win, but added: "I'm from Lake Placid, New York, and I worked on the 1980 Olympic games as their CFO. And we believe in miracles up here."
Elections boards have finished their absentee ballot counting in Hamilton, Madison and Oneida counties, all of which Mr. Hoffman carried on Election Day. Ms. Scozzafava took in the most absentee votes in Hamilton, while Mr. Owens grabbed the most in Madison and Mr. Hoffman attracted the most in Oneida.
A Watertown Daily Times reporter obtained partial results in Jefferson County, where 27 percent of absentee votes in the race had been counted. Ms. Scozzafava led Mr. Owens there by 17 votes and Mr. Hoffman by 19 votes. Mr. Hoffman won the county on Election Day.
County boards are required to report results to the state Board of Elections by Nov. 27, although most expect to finish counting by Monday.
Jefferson County elections officials also provided the following results, all still considered unofficial:
■ Legislative District 11: Republican Robert D. Ferris extended his 21-vote Election Day lead through absentee balloting and won, 947-912, over Democrat Paul A. Simmons. District 11 encompasses Rutland and Watertown.
■ Henderson: A write-in campaign by Supervisor Clyde E. Moore attracted 180 votes, but fell short of Republican Raymond A. Walker's tally. He picked 37 absentee votes for a total of 327. Democrat Steven C. Cote finished with 109 total votes.
Republican Frank W. Ross apparently has survived a late charge from Democrat Robert E. Aliasso Jr. for a second Town Council seat. Mr. Aliasso collected 37 absentee votes and finished with 284 votes. Mr. Ross collected 20 and finished with 292 votes. Republican Torre J. Parker-Lane was the first-place finisher with 392 votes. Democrat David Perry finished fourth, with 241 total votes.
■ Theresa: Gary Haller collected 26 write-in votes and won a spot on the Town Council. Roger Duvall attracted 10 write-in votes to claim second place in a race for two justice positions.
Elections officials will start this morning counting absentee ballots and write-in votes in Lyme and Lorraine, as well as continuing their count of the 23rd Congressional District.
