GOP ex-candidate endorses Democrat in NY race Eds: APNewsNow. Will be led.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A day after Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) abruptly suspended her campaign in the New York special election, she's endorsing the Democrat in the race not the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

Scozzafava said Sunday that Democrat Bill Owens is the best of the remaining candidates to build on the legacy of the previous holder of the 23rd Congressional District seat. Republican John McHugh has taken a position in the Obama administration.

A recent Siena College poll showed Scozzafava finishing a distant third behind Owens and conservative Doug Hoffman.

The special election is scheduled for Tuesday.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-01-09 1433CST | save this article / add to your favorites list