NY-23: A sign of things to come?

***This is a post from the Democratic National Committee's Blog.

When moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the special election in NY-23 on Saturday – then endorsed Democratic candidate Bill Owens on Sunday – she laid bare a serious problem for the Republican Party, regardless of who wins the special election tomorrow.

The Republican Party is increasingly dominated by its radical right wing, which harbors extreme views on everything from tax policy and health care, to social issues and foreign policy.

Right wing groups spent more than $1 million against Scozzafava, while the national Republican Party spent $1 million on her behalf – to no avail. Her decision to drop out of the race – just four days before the election – is yet another indication that there is no room for moderate Republicans in today’s GOP.

From the Washington Post, “In NY: No Room for GOP Moderates”

The Republican civil war in New York’s 23rd congressional district has been resolved in favor of the right-wing: The abrupt withdrawal on Halloween of assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee and a moderate, leaves the third party Conservative, standing alone for Tuesday’s election.

Conservatives -- who had been bashing Scozzafava as if she were some sort of socialist -- were elated that Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, could now get full Republican Party support. Their war on moderates claimed its first scalp, and a very important one.

From the Politico, “Conservatives take aim at leaders, Crist, other races”:

...Right now, the power, the energy, the momentum — and the results — are on the side of the conservative activists…

Make no mistake: There is a huge divide between the public rants of this activist wing and the private angst of party leaders in D.C.

Numerous GOP officials have told POLITICO they worry that the party has been hijacked by a noisy and powerful minority that will keep the GOP in a noisy and not-so-powerful minority for a long time…

From Politics Daily, “Palin's GOP Brand: Exclusionary and Short-Sighted, but Who Will Stop It?”:

…There's a direct line between Palin, the most famous Republican to endorse conservative third-party congressional candidate Doug Hoffman in Tuesday's special election in New York, and moderate Republican assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava's stunning decision Saturday to suspend her campaign.

Hoffman could well win, giving short-term succor to the GOP and Palin's exclusionary, storm-the-barricades brand of Republicanism. And who knows when and where this will stop -- or where it will lead? It has all the elements of a runaway train, and very few Republicans are willing to step in front of it…

Despite the protestations of elected Republicans who say that they understand the diversity needed to win elections and majorities, and that this is an isolated case, you have to wonder what will happen to aspiring Republican moderates of the future -- or if there will even be any…