Sarah Palin has endorsed Doug Hoffman, a third party candidate for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. The endorsement (here on Facebook) boosted his fundraising and issued a decided snub to the moderate GOP candidate.

In her endorsement, Palin praised Hoffman’s independence and conservatism, invoking Ronald Reagan:

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.

Conservatives have criticized Hoffman’s Republican opponent, Dede Scozzafava, for being pro-abortion and for voicing support for gay rights.  Concerned Women for America, Club for Growth, Fred Thompson and Gary Bauer have all rejected Scozzafava and endorsed Hoffman instead. Hoffman is clearly splitting the Republican vote, since the last poll had Democrat Bill Owens at 33 percent, Scozzafava at 29 percent (down 6) and Hoffman at 23 percent (up by 7). Hoffman took 27 percent of the Republican vote.