Politics

Rudy Ready To Rock In New York

April 13, 1999 / 1:30 PM EDT / AP

Now he's officially thinking about it.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took a big step toward a run for the U.S. Senate Monday, announcing that he's forming an exploratory campaign committee for the race. That allows him to raise money more aggressively and accept larger contributions.

The Republican mayor still is officially undecided, but his move sends a clear signal to potential rivals, including first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, that he is serious about the seat being vacated next year by Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Forming the exploratory committee allows the mayor to use funds for polling and traveling. He also can accept contributions of up to $2,000 -- $1,000 each for the primary and general elections -- without submitting paperwork to the Federal Election Commission from the donors stating the purpose of the contributions.

The filing limits Giuliani to running for the U.S. Senate seat instead of the presidency. The mayor was to head to Austin, Texas, Tuesday to meet with Republican presidential contender Gov. George W. Bush.

"In a formal way, this states that he has decided to begin in earnest to explore his candidacy for the U.S. Senate," said Giuliani's campaign chief, Bruce Teitelbaum. "It is the natural progression of things."

The mayor has raised about $2 million for the campaign so far, including more than $700,000 this year.

At a press conference Monday, Giuliani said fund-raising has gone much better than anticipated.

"In the last six weeks since Bruce Teitelbaum has been aboard, we've raised probably two-and-a-half to three times more money than we thought we would raise," he said.

In addition to allowing the mayor to raise more money, Republican political consultant Jay Severin said, the exploratory committee sends a message to potential opponents.

"The mayor has been sending signals, and while the motive is certainly open to question, it could be to try to frighten Hillary out of the race because it's possible that Rudy won't run if Hillary does," said Severin. "He's also freezing out or stalling other Republican candidates."

Mrs. Clinton has said she is considering a run for the seat and has sought advice in private meetings with local politicians and labor leaders about what probably would be a rough-and-tumble race.

Other potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, a four-term Long Island Republican, and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a Democrat who has said she will not run if Mrs. Clinton does. Mrs. Clinton is unlikely to decide before June or July.

Giuliani's move was expected, said Harold Ickes, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton.

"He has said he is interested in the seat and obviously has a right to do an exploratory committee," said Ickes. "We are certainly not surprised."

A recent statewide poll conducted by the Siena (College) Research Center had Mrs. Clinton favoed by 45 percent of New Yorkers questioned, to 41 percent for Giuliani, a statistical dead-heat given the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. The telephone poll of 469 adults was conducted March 3-24.