Hoffman's poll says GOP voters favor him

While Douglas L. Hoffman mulls a second bid for the 23rd Congressional District seat, the Lake Placid accountant released a poll Tuesday he commissioned that showed him as the favorite for the Republican nomination.

Fifty-six percent of 300 likely Republican primary voters in the 11-county district who answered the McLaughlin & Associates telephone poll Jan. 4 and 5 said they'd pick Mr. Hoffman instead of three potential challengers: William A. Barclay, Pulaski; Matthew A. Doheny, Watertown, and Paul A. Maroun, Tupper Lake.

Mr. Barclay, a state assemblyman who ran for state Senate two years ago, was picked by 22 percent of respondents. Mr. Maroun, a Franklin County legislator, and Mr. Doheny, a businessman, received 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Eighteen percent were undecided. The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.

Mr. Hoffman's potential challengers were quick to dismiss the poll's findings as self-serving and too early to reflect future results.

Mr. Barclay noted that there were several polls predicting Mr. Hoffman would win last fall's special election. The Conservative Party candidate lost by 3,584 votes to Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh.

"When voters get the opportunity to compare the candidates, I like my chances," Mr. Barclay said.

Mr. Doheny said the poll results were not surprising, "given the millions of dollars spent on his behalf in his unsuccessful bid for Congress. Be assured, over the next 10 months, I will have the resources that will ensure voters hear my message about creating opportunities, improving the local economy, and how I will be their representative in Congress."

Mr. Maroun pointed out the poll was conducted before there are any announced candidates or active campaigning.