NY-23: DeMint Endorses Hoffman, Pete Olson Holds His Fire

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) gives the exclusive to RedState – the third such exclusive a conservative leader has given to that blog, by my count.

America needs more people like Doug Hoffman, Pat Toomey, and Marco Rubio to run for office and bring real reform to Washington. Americans fundamentally believe in the principles of freedom and liberty, that we as individuals have the responsibility and the right to live our lives without the heavy hand of government on our shoulders.

Earlier today, I spoke with Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) — one of the four Republicans who won a Democratic seat in 2008 — at a bloggers’ briefing sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. When he got a question on whether he supported Hoffman or Dede Scozzafava, the GOP candidate in NY-23, he punted.

“I’m not endorsing anybody,” he said. “The situation there — the way the nomination happens is that the party picks it, the local party picks it.”

Certainly, not making any endorsement of a Republican candidate was a statement in itself. I followed up with Olson afterward.

“The biggest contribution I could make as a freshman is funds,” he said. “But right now, as a freshman, I’m like this.” He held up his arms and pulled them toward his chest, as if protecting his campaign war chest.