Doug Hoffman announced this afternoon he will again remain in the NY-23 race on the Conservative Party line, reducing the GOP’s chances of winning back a seat they held for about a century before losing it in a special election last year to the Democrats.

“Over the past few days I have thought long and hard about the next six weeks,” Hoffman said in a statement released by his campaign.

“I have spoken with family, friends, supporters and staff as I have weighed my next step. So today, with new resolve and a strong commitment to conservative principles, I rededicate myself to this race and announce that I will actively campaign for Congress as the nominee of the Conservative Party.”

“Understand, I do not continue this race out of spite or because of self conceived virtues. I continue in this race because of the failings of my opponents to be truthful with the voters.

“Whether we look a Mr. Owens’ support of Obama-care or Mr. Doheny claim to be pro-life when in fact he supports abortion through the first trimester, we see two candidates who will do or say anything to get a vote elected.”

This comes as no surprise, since Hoffman said prior to the GOP primary that he would keep his pledge to state Conservative Chairman Mike Long regardless of the outcome last Tuesday.

Hoffman ended up losing a close election to fellow Republican Matt Doheny, who, along with Hoffman, lost out on the GOP nod in the special election when county leaders decided to support moderate Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava.

Hoffman noted that he won more than 69,500 votes running on the Conservative Party line last fall, and also pointed out that it’s too late to get his name removed from the ballot (unless, of course, he dies, moves out of state or is nominated for a state Supreme Court judgeship).

In addition, Hoffman said Doheny did not have an “easy victory” on Sept. 14, adding: “He outspent my campaign by a 12-1 margin and had the backing of all 11 of the GOP bosses and yet only out-polled me by a few hundred votes.”

That may be, but as Democrats are stressing the upcoming midterms and hoping to block the GOP effort to win the 39 seats to flip control of the House, NY-23 is looking a lot less like a Republican pick-up.

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