The Blob Disintegrates

Ding dong, the misplaced witch is dead:

Just confirmed that Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has quit the race. Speaking to supporters, Scozzafava broke down in tears.

UPDATE: Scozzafava, the hand-picked choice of the New York state GOP in the key 23rd District special election, reportedly will throw her support to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Oh, really?  She'll throw her support to the candidate with whom she agrees on next to nothing?  I'll believe that when I see it.  At best she'll back the remaining candidate whoever gets to her last tells her to.  This report makes that look very up in the air:

Dede Scozzafava, the Republican and Independence parties candidate in the 23rd Congressional District, is suspending her campaign and releasing her supporters.

The state Assemblywoman has not backed either of her two opponents in the race, Doug Hoffman or Bill Owens.

Why did she quit now?  Ostensibly it was this Siena poll showing her support plunging like an anchor.  Which isn't really all that persuasive since her numbers have been cratering for the past week.  Why didn't she quit then?  Could it be because she really was sucking more votes from Owen than Hoffman and she wanted to give the Donk the best chance to flip another GOP seat?

Micheal Steele looked to the future today.  And last, and certainly least, Newt Gingrich threw in the towel:

Gingrich made the announcement via Twitter shortly after the Republican Party nominee Scozzafava announced she was releasing supporters from their commitment to back her.

“Scozzafava dropping out leaves hoffman as only anti-tax anti-pelosi vote in ny 23 Every voter opposed to tax increases support doug hoffman,” Gingrich wrote on Twitter. (Tweet shown as it appeared)

Is it just me, or is this somewhat less than a full-fledged endorsement of Hoffman?  Or is Newt's apparent flabbergasting belief that the Blob was "anti-tax" and "anti-Pelosi" an indication that he's working not off of sour grapes or malevolence but sheer stubborn cluelessness?  And will Scazzafava muster as much graciousness?