I ran into Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), the fourth-ranking member of the House Republican leadership, before this morning’s Big Government press conference — he had intended to speak, but had to run out early. McCotter is one of the relatively few House Republicans who’s come out for GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election; I asked him why.

“I think the Republican has to win the seat,” said McCotter. “We don’t want the Democrats to win it. But in my own 51 percent seat, I’m a little busy.” (McCotter won re-election in 2008 with 51 percent of the vote.)

McCotter asked me what chance I gave Scozzafava; I referred to her high-profile blunder of calling the cops on mild-mannered Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack. And McCotter declined to handicap the race himself. “You’d have to ask (Rep.) Peter King (R-N.Y.) about that,” he said.