Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has "unconceded" in New
York's special House election after reports that the vote margin
between him and Rep. Bill Owens (D) has narrowed.
Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night after learning he trailed Owens by 5,335 votes. But the Syracuse Post-Standard reported last week that the margin had shrunk to 3,026 votes after recanvassing. Hoffman appeared on conservative commenatator Glenn Beck's radio show
this afternoon. Beck asked the him if he would "unconcede."
"Yes, if
I knew this information at the election night, I would not have
conceded," Hoffman said. Beck asked him again if he was "uncondeding"
and Hoffman replied "If that’s possible, yes."
Officials in
the upstate New York district are still counting over 10,000 absentee
ballots, which also had Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava's name on
them. Scozzafava dropped out of the race three days before election day
citing poor fundraising and polling returns. She then backed Owens.
Owens
was sworn into Congress on Nov. 6, just before Democrats voted on the
healthcare reform bill on Saturday. Should Hoffman come away with more
votes, a highly unlikely possibility, Owens would have to be removed
from office, according to the House Clerk.
Hoffman would
have to take over 65 percent of the absentee ballots in order to
eclipse Owens. In the interview, Hoffman admitted his victory would be
a "long shot."