Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican Nominee for Vice President and Republican Alaska Governor has endorsed Conservative Party Doug Hoffman over the Republican Dede Scozzafava in the special election for New York’s 23rd congressional district.

Here is Palin’s statement:

The people of the 23rd Congressional District of New York are ready to shake things up, and Doug Hoffman is coming on strong as Election Day approaches! He needs our help now.

The votes of every member of Congress affect every American, so it’s important for all of us to pay attention to this important Congressional campaign in upstate New York. I am very pleased to announce my support for Doug Hoffman in his fight to be the next Representative from New York’s 23rd Congressional district. It’s my honor to endorse Doug and to do what I can to help him win, including having my political action committee, SarahPAC, donate to his campaign the maximum contribution allowed by law.

Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a “time for choosing.”

The federal government borrows, spends, and prints too much money, while our national debt hits a record high. Government is growing while the private sector is shrinking, and unemployment is on the rise. Doug Hoffman is committed to ending the reckless spending in Washington, D.C. and the massive increase in the size and scope of the federal government. He is also fully committed to supporting our men and women in uniform as they seek to honorably complete their missions overseas.

And best of all, Doug Hoffman has not been anointed by any political machine.

Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty.

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of “blurring the lines” between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party’s ticket.

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.

You can help Doug by visiting his official website below and joining me in supporting his campaign:
http://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.html.

– Sarah Palin

So, Sarah Palin goes rogue and endorses a non-Republican candidate for Congress – just like she said she would. Now, this will shake up the race but by splitting the GOP vote will Palin actually be enabling the Democrat, Bill Owens?

And, will she be blamed if and when Dede and Hoffman lose?

Stay tuned…..

Update:

Just wondering if Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty will weigh in with endorsements of Doug Hoffman?

This just in: Tim Pawlenty has according to Matt Lewis on Twitter has demurred and has said he has not been following the race.

Technorati Tags: Sarah_Palin, Dede_Scozzafava, Bill_Owens, Doug_Hoffman