Palin backs 3rd- party candidate in NY House race

ALBANY, N.Y. - Less than a year removed from serving as the Republican vice presidential candidate, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has endorsed a third-party candidate for an upstate New York House seat.

Palin backed Conservative party nominee Doug Hoffman on Thursday over Republican Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava in the state's 23rd District.

Palin has written on her Facebook page that Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes and a commitment to individual liberty.

A Scozzafava spokesperson did not immediately return a message late Thursday seeking comment.

Democrat Bill Owens is also running for the seat. Republican Rep. John McHugh vacated the office last month to become secretary of the Army.