Knock It Off!
New York State's number one Republican said Rep. Rick Lazio should stop touting himself as a Rudy Giuliani alternative for the GOP's Senate nomination to face Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I don't think it is particularly helpful for other Republicans to do anything other than get behind the candidacy of Mayor Giuliani," Gov. George Pataki told a state Capitol news conference on Wednesday. "I urge him (Lazio) and all the others to do that."
On Sunday, Lazio said he feared the GOP was in danger of losing the Senate race with Giuliani and offered himself as an alternative, if party leaders wanted him.
Among other things, Lazio said it appeared unlikely the New York City mayor could win the backing of the state's Conservative Party. No Republican in New York has won statewide office without the support of the Conservative Party since 1974.
Lazio said the GOP needs a candidate who can unite the party, attract Democrats and independents, and "present a better, more positive, more inclusive message for Republicans." The Long Island congressman said he didn't think Giuliani was the best candidate to do that, citing the mayor's recent poll numbers.
"I think he's just wrong," Pataki said Wednesday.
"I made it plain months ago that I think the mayor has earned the right to be our candidate," the governor added. "He has gone out since that time and mounted an effective campaign. I have every confidence that he will be our next senator come November."
| Partying in New York The Ross Perot-inspired Independence Party of New York, on the strength of a 17 percent increase in voter enrollment over the past year, has become the third-largest political party in the state, surpassing the Conservative Party. March enrollment figures from the state Board of Elections show the Independence Party - New York's wing of the national Reform Party - had 172,471 members, up from 147,545 members a year ago. The Conservative Party had 171,496 members, up from 169,900 a year ago. The Democratic Party continued to lead the way in New York with 4.96 million members with the Republican Party in second spot with 3.09 million members. (AP) |
Lazio said Wednesday that he didn't want to comment on the governor's statement until he had a chance to talk personally with him. The congressman said he had placed a telephone call to Pataki, but wasn't certain when they would discuss the issue.
"My preference is to deal with this face-to-face," the congressman said.
On Tuesday, Lazio had said that if Pataki, Powers, and ther GOP leaders didn't want him in the Senate race, he wouldn't enter it.
Recent independent polls have shown Republican Giuliani's previous small lead over Democrat Clinton has evaporated. The reason appears to be the mayor's handling of the fatal shooting last month by New York City police of an unarmed black man, Patrick Dorismond. In defending the police, Giuliani received widespread criticism for releasing Dorismond's criminal record, including court-sealed juvenile records.
Lazio had been preparing to run for Senate until Pataki threw his support behind Giuliani last August and asked Lazio to suspend his effort. The congressman did so.
Pataki said Wednesday that he hoped Giuliani and the leaders of the Conservative Party, who are close to the governor, could work out their differences. But Michael Long, the chairman of the Conservative Party, has said Giuliani's continued support for abortion rights is a stumbling block. And the mayor has refused to budge on the issue.