Republican congressional candidate Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign.
In a statement issued Saturday, Scozzafava cited polls that "have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be."
"It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do," her statement said.
The Associated Press reported that Scozzafava is encouraging supporters to embrace Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.
Scozzafava's statement came after the release of a Siena Research poll showing her in third place with 20 percent of the likely vote. The poll showed the race between Hoffman and Democrat Bill Owens too close to call with Hoffman at 35 percent and Owens, at 36 percent.
