Look For The Liberal Label

This weekend in the New York Senate race could be called "Who Wants To Be A Liberal?"

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani each met with leaders of the Liberal Party, one of the Empire State's small but influential third parties, in Manhattan on Saturday for about an hour.

"I had a very good discussion about a lot of issues," said Clinton after her meeting with Liberal party officials, who are mulling whether to endorse the first lady or the New York City mayor in the Senate race. "I thought it was a very positive conversation."

On the surface, it may seem odd to some that Giuliani, a Republican, wants to run as, of all things, a Liberal, against Democrat Clinton, so an explanation is in order.

In New York State, candidates can run on more than one party banner at once. In order to win statewide, that's what they have to do. Since the Liberal Party's founding in 1944, no Democrat has won a statewide race without its backing. And since 1974, no Republican has won a contest statewide without support from another minor party, the Conservative Party.

That brings us to Hillary and Rudy. The Liberal Party's boss, Ray Harding, is a friend and ally of the mayor. In Giuliani's three bids for mayor, he ran with the Liberal Party label. Giuliani has hired two of Harding's sons, including Robert who's a deputy mayor.

"I'm very well aware of the mayor's relationship with Mr. Harding and the party," said Clinton following her meeting.

And so is Michael Long, leader of the Conservative Party, the usual Republican ally. Long says Giuliani can't have it both ways and run for Senate on both minor party lines. And Long wants the mayor to change his tune on the late term abortion procedure that critics call "partial birth abortion." But Giuliani, an abortion rights supporter, refuses. Last but not least, Long is keen about Joseph DioGuardi, a former congressman from suburban Westchester County who is seeking three minor party labels in the Senate race - Conservative, Independence (New York's branch of the Reform Party, and Right to Life.

After Giuliani's session with Liberal Party officials, the mayor said he too should get a crack at the Conservative Party label, citing his "overwhelming" support among conservative voters.

"They're going to have to decide that," said Giuliani of the Conservative Party. "I think the party should be open to considering people…and not trying to impose litmus tests."

As for the Liberal Party, its official endorsement in the Senate race is expected later in the month. The party's policy committee, which interviewed Clinton and Giuliani on Saturday, will recommend its Senate choice to the party's full state committee as part of that process.

Looming in the background is Giuliani's prostate cancer. The mayor is still deciding whether to stay in the Senate race as he fights his medical battle. If Giuliani decides not to run for health reasns, The New York Post on Saturday reported millionaire financier Ted Forstmann is thinking about jumping in if the mayor drops out.

And then there's Giuliani, his wife, and his "very good friend." On Saturday, the mayor's wife, Donna Hanover, talked to reporters outside St. Patrick's Cathedral, before attending a mass for Cardinal John O'Connor, who died last week.

Hanover, who at times appeared to be near tears, thanked those who have offered her support in recent weeks.

"I appreciate all the love and kind thoughts that so many people have sent to me and my children during these difficult days," she said. "I will be supportive of Rudy in his fight against this illness, as this marriage and this man have been very precious to me."

Then the first lady of the Big Apple said, "The well-being and safety of (children) Andrew and Caroline will be my primary concern in any decisions that have to be made, as has always been the case."

Giuliani had no comment on his wife's remarks, but added he wasn't surprised by a New York Daily News/New York 1 poll released Saturday that found that 77 percent of respondents believed the mayor's relationship with Upper East Side divorcee Judith Nathan was a private matter.

"I think most New Yorkers feel the way I feel," he said. "I share a lot of their feeling, which is that somebody's private life should be left alone and that the mere fact that you are a public official does not mean that you are not a human being and that you don't have the same issues and things that go on that other human beings do."