NRCC Changing Position on Doug Hoffman in NY-23?; Updated: "Sapwolf" Reports From the Ground in Upstate NY

It looks like the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), chaired by Representative Pete Sessions (R - Texas), is finally getting the message from the base. Just four days ago, in an article for the Politico, Alex Isenstadt wrote the following:

The National Republican Congressional Committee remains committed to embattled GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava in the upstate New York House special election, even as many of the party's top names throw their support to Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman.

Two party officials tell POLITICO that the NRCC will continue to air TV ads propping up Scozzafava in the days leading up to the Nov. 3 contest and plans to keep up a near relentless barrage of press releases slamming Hoffman.

[...]

The NRCC plans to spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on TV ads in the final week-and-a-half of the campaign. The ads will focus on Owens and Scozzafava and will not mention Hoffman.

The NRCC appears to be changing their tune now. Late today, in a just-released Politico article by Alex Isenstadt and John Kraushaar, Rep. Sessions discussed Doug Hoffman and the race in NY-23:

The House Republican leadership is prepared to welcome Doug Hoffman into its ranks, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said Thursday, a sign that the GOP establishment is recalibrating its approach toward the contentious New York special election and the Conservative Party nominee whose candidacy has divided the party.

“He would be very welcome, with open arms,” Sessions told POLITICO in an interview off the House floor.

[...]

On Thursday afternoon, Sessions appeared to tacitly acknowledge that Hoffman may represent the GOP’s best chance to keep the Republican-held seat from being picked up by a Democrat.

“I think it’s pretty clear that a person who would vote for John Boehner, support tax cuts, support growing our economy, and defeat Nancy Pelosi’s tax and spend agenda will be really welcome in our conference, and I think having a person who can win that district off that message would be really good for the Republican Party,” Sessions said.

Isenstadt and Kraushaar also note what a truly remarkable grass roots effort is underway in the district:

Hoffman, whose campaign barely had a presence in the district as recently as two weeks ago, is getting help from a well-oiled conservative ground game, with hundreds of volunteers from tea party groups and leading conservative organizations working in upstate New York to help him get out the vote next Tuesday.

Hoffman’s campaign now has five campaign offices teeming with volunteers across the sprawling district. By contrast, Scozzafava’s campaign has just one office in her home base.

The anti-tax Club for Growth, pro-life Susan B. Anthony’s List, Eagle Forum and anti-illegal immigration Minuteman PAC all have staffers on the ground knocking on doors, making calls to Republican voters and delivering pro-Hoffman literature to churches.

I don't think it's possible to overestimate the importance of Governor Palin's endorsement in this grass roots effort. While Dick Armey and Fred Thompson, among others, endorsed Doug Hoffman first, it was Governor Palin's endorsement that launched the tidal wave of endorsements and sparked the nationwide excitement we're seeing now. C4P reader and commenter "Sapwolf" drove hundreds of miles to volunteer for Hoffman's campaign, as did countless others. NY-23 is now the most exciting race in the country this election cycle, and the most important reason for that is the bold step Governor Palin took in which she placed principle above party. If Doug Hoffman wins on November 3rd, which looks increasingly possible, it will be due, in no small part, to the leadership of Governor Palin.

Contribute to Doug Hoffman's campaign here.

Update by Doug: Sapwolf, to whom I referred above, is on the ground in Upstate New York and posted the following report in the comments:

Report from Watertown, NY on District 23 race:

Doug Hoffman now has the momentum. He has pulled even with the Dem Owens and is clearly 10+ points ahead of the radical GOP Scozzafava in the newest DailyKOS poll and in one other poll.

A couple of Fox people were outside the office and they had trouble finding people who were not for Doug. And no, Ainsley Earhart was not one of them, I would have noticed.

GOP voters are gradually coming around to the truth about Scozza’s voting record and many are expressing disgust. I saw on TV tonight, from the Best Western in Canton, an incredible TV add for Scozzafava that presented her as the ‘progressive’ candidate. I kid you not. I thought I was in the twilight zone. We even bumped into a guy who admitted that he was working for Dede’s campaign and that the people there knew it was a sinking ship.

The Dems and Scozza’s gang are now running adds that only attack Doug as he is the real front-runner now.

I posted on Sarah’s Facebook to tell people to call Dede’s campaign to try to convince her to back out of the race and back Doug, but I doubt she will. By EOD Tuesday, assuming the passion holds and the momentum continues, I think we can win this one. Say a prayer.

By the way, I met Doug (Hoffman) and shook his hand tonight in Canton. Great guy. Totally grassroots CPA. Sarah backed the right horse. Some of the people here thanked me for helping out. Good salt-of-the-earth people.

And don’t forget to contact your Congressmen and tell them to vote against the current healthcare bill.

I’ll try to post again over the weekend.