Pence endorses Hoffman for 2010

The third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman for the 2010 midterm elections.

House Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) offered his support to Hoffman, who was defeated at the hands of Democrat Bill Owens in a highly contested special election in upstate New York. 

"Well, let me say that the lesson here is that we all need to fall behind Doug Hoffman for next fall’s election," Pence told a conservative blog today. "I look forward to welcoming him to Congress a year from now. I think he ran a brilliant campaign."

Hoffman posed a challenge from the right to Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, who dropped out of the race over the weekend. Grassroots conservatives and several national Republican leaders fell in line behind Hoffman and criticized Scozzafava for holding too many liberal positions.

Grassroots activists also pressured members of the GOP establishment to back Hoffman in the race. Pence and other members of the Republican congressional leadership did not back Hoffman until Scozzafava pulled out of the contest.

"I declined to endorse the Republican candidate up there... particularly as a member of the House Republican leadership I didn't want to speak ill of a Republican candidate for Congress," he said. "But people who know me know that I describe myself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican -- and in that order."

Owens won the vacant seat of Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), who stepped down to become Army Secretary. Owens, who became the first Democrat to hold the seat in over 100 years, will be up for reelection in 2010.

Hoffman has not announced if he will run again.