TIME—With polls showing Hoffman surging going into the weekend, Scozzafava withdrew in a huff and endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. Owens won with 49% of the vote to Hoffman’s 45%. Scozzafava, who remained on the ballot, drew 6%.
In other words, Hoffman would have won if Scozzafava had not remained on the ballot. It seems as if everyone is talking about this race, and about whether it was a victory for conservatives. The answer is yes.
But not only is it a victory for conservatives, it is a victory for libertarians as well. Despite Hoffman’s loss, the NY-23 race shows that people are not just willing to fight the mainstream Republican establishment, but that they can defeat the Republican establishment.
Most everyone understands the inevitability of the two party system, and because of the two party system conservatives and libertarians have to take back the GOP, which is supposed to be the party of limited government and liberty.
Both conservatives and libertarians understand that the moderates and the neocons have to go. With the moderates and neocons, who expand government every chance they get, in the driver seat of the GOP, out-of-control government will never be reigned in.
If libertarians want national recognition, if they want serious influence on public policy, we have to work through the GOP.
Which is what many libertarians are trying to do:
Rand Paul, running for US Senate from Kentucky.
Peter Schiff, running for US Senate from Connecticut. Also the guy who predicted the economic crisis.
Adam Kokesh, running for Congress, NM-3.
John Dennis, running for Congress, CA-8
