UPDATED: Doug Hoffman un-conceded the NY-23 race after a vote count showed him only 3,026 votes behind Owens (see original post from Nov. 12 below). Now, he has posted a message alleging that the election was stolen by ACORN and unions:

Recent developments leave me to wonder who is scheming behind closed doors, twisting arms and stealing elections from the voters of NY-23.

Politico reports that Hoffman has  “next-to-no chance of pulling ahead,” with half of the absentee ballots counted and only a 344 Hoffman vote gain.

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A recanvassing of the vote in New York’s 23 Congressional District shows that everyone may have called the race too soon. Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate backed by many conservatives after they discovered the more liberal views of Republican Dede Scozzafava, conceded to Bill Owens on Election Day, believing that he was 5,335 votes down. Owens was quickly sworn in so that he could cast his vote for healthcare reform. But now recanvassing shows that Hoffman is only 3,026 votes behind Owens, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. John Conklin, communications director for the state Board of Elections, says that means the race will be decided by absentee ballots.