For those of you...

...who are not political junkies (translation: you have lives), there will be a special election for the 23rd Congressional District of New York on November 3. It will be held to replace Republican John McHugh, who resigned to become U. S. Secretary of the Army. Although it has generally been a safe seat for the GOP, the emergence of a third party candidate has cast some doubt on the outcome. It has also brought some interesting dynamics to the fore.

The three candidates are Democrat (translation: sacrificial lamb) Bill Owens, who has been endorsed by President Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and U. S. Senator Chuck Schumer (yawn); Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (never mind that name for now), who has been endorsed by House Majority Leader John Boehner, the NRA, Texas Representative Jeb Hensarling, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and the Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas (?); and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has been endorsed by the Club for Growth, former U. S. Senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson, religious right leader Gary Bauer, the New York State Right to Life PAC, Michelle Malkin, Bill Kristol, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, former Republican House Leader Dick Armey, Michele Bachmann, and Sarah Palin. (Whew! That was a long sentence.)

Apparently, Scozzafava is seen by some as insufficiently conservative, and therefore unworthy of their endorsement. So the two conservatives in the race may end up splitting the Republican vote and thus throwing the election to Owens, the Democrat. This has many in the GOP upset, and is an example of the tension between those in the party who want to remain ideologically pure and those who want to move to the center. It should also determine winners and losers among those endorsing either candidate.

Keep your eye on this race; it means a lot more than you might think. Which is why I find it curious that Tim Pawlenty has declined to endorse either candidate. He claims he hasn't been following it. Huh? This guy wants to be the Republican standard-bearer for 2012 and he can't make up his mind about the most important election facing his party at the moment? Mark my words: this is a big test for TPaw.