http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WAPO/19990806/V000684-080699-idx.html
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Pataki Backs Giuliani for Senate
By Katherine Roth
Associated Press Writer
Friday, August 6, 1999; 5:51 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- In a move that could defuse a nasty
primary fight, Gov. George Pataki endorsed Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani for the Senate on Friday and asked Rep. Rick Lazio to
defer his decision on whether to enter the race.
``In order to win, the Republican Party must be unified
behind one strong candidate. I believe that Rudy Giuliani has
earned the right to be that candidate,'' Pataki said.
Giuliani, who has had a contentious relationship with the
governor, was noticeably absent from Pataki's news
conference. But he issued a statement saying, ``I very much
appreciate Gov. George Pataki's strong words of support.''
A GOP primary fight between Giuliani and Lazio could deplete
GOP funds and leave the winner vulnerable to expected
Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Similarly, a unified Republican Party could hurt Mrs. Clinton.
The first lady, exploring a Senate bid, is not expected to have
any opposition for the Democratic nomination.
``What the Republicans do or don't do is up to them. Mrs.
Clinton is going to continue focusing on issues and listening to
New Yorkers,'' said Howard Wolfson, spokesman for Mrs.
Clinton's exploratory committee.
Giuliani, who has not yet announced whether he will run, also
got the endorsement Friday of former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato.
Like Pataki, D'Amato also has been at odds with Giuliani.
Pataki's backing came in a brief statement in which he saved
his most glowing words for Lazio.
``Rick Lazio is an outstanding congressman who is a rising
star in our party. ... Rick Lazio would be a very strong
candidate,'' Pataki said. ``Nevertheless, I have asked
Congressman Lazio to defer his announcement and await the
mayor's decision.''
Lazio, who could not immediately be reached for comment
Friday, has said he would not run if Pataki asked him to bow
out of the race.
Asked if he held any lingering resentment toward Giuliani,
who had endorsed Mario Cuomo for governor over Pataki, the
governor said, ``Obviously it was a disappointment, but you
can't look backward. You have to look forward.''
Giuliani is widely expected to run for the Senate, as is Mrs.
Clinton who has been traveling the state in an effort to
overcome the ``carpetbagger'' charge leveled against her.
Campaigning in Rochester, Mrs. Clinton said her planned
summer-long ``listening tour'' of New York could extend well
into the fall.
She called for a common standard for coverage of political
candidates that does not invade their privacy.
``I don't think it serves our nation or our political process well
for people to have every shred of privacy taken away from
them,'' she said. ``I don't think that's good and I'm speaking
as someone who's been through it, so I have some experience
in that regard.''
At his news conference, Pataki was asked why he didn't
endorse Giuliani earlier. ``I was waiting until the end of the
legislative session, but I've thought for some time that this was
the right decision,'' he said.
He also said he wanted to be sure his announcement came
before Lazio's planned entry into the race the week of Aug. 16.
``I wanted to make sure my position was known to him and
to the others within this state prior to his making that
determination,'' Pataki said.
The governor told reporters that he spoke to both Giuliani and
Lazio before making his announcement and that D'Amato was
aware of his position.
``I agree with the governor's decision that Rudy Giuliani has
earned the right to be our party's nominee,'' D'Amato said in a
statement. ``I am certain that if he runs he will have my
support and the overwhelming support of the Republican Party
throughout the state. I urge the mayor to get into the race
soon and unify the Republican Party.''
Several Republican leaders, including state Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno and Staten Island Borough President Guy
Molinari, had encouraged Lazio not to run against Giuliani.
``A bloody primary obviously would be very costly,'' Molinari
said.
State Republican Chairman William D. Powers said Giuliani
would make a formidable candidate and that his running
``will allow a true New Yorker to serve as our U.S. senator.''
© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press[/quote]
Heheheh....can you say "meat grinder", Hillary?
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Pataki Backs Giuliani for Senate
By Katherine Roth
Associated Press Writer
Friday, August 6, 1999; 5:51 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- In a move that could defuse a nasty
primary fight, Gov. George Pataki endorsed Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani for the Senate on Friday and asked Rep. Rick Lazio to
defer his decision on whether to enter the race.
``In order to win, the Republican Party must be unified
behind one strong candidate. I believe that Rudy Giuliani has
earned the right to be that candidate,'' Pataki said.
Giuliani, who has had a contentious relationship with the
governor, was noticeably absent from Pataki's news
conference. But he issued a statement saying, ``I very much
appreciate Gov. George Pataki's strong words of support.''
A GOP primary fight between Giuliani and Lazio could deplete
GOP funds and leave the winner vulnerable to expected
Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Similarly, a unified Republican Party could hurt Mrs. Clinton.
The first lady, exploring a Senate bid, is not expected to have
any opposition for the Democratic nomination.
``What the Republicans do or don't do is up to them. Mrs.
Clinton is going to continue focusing on issues and listening to
New Yorkers,'' said Howard Wolfson, spokesman for Mrs.
Clinton's exploratory committee.
Giuliani, who has not yet announced whether he will run, also
got the endorsement Friday of former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato.
Like Pataki, D'Amato also has been at odds with Giuliani.
Pataki's backing came in a brief statement in which he saved
his most glowing words for Lazio.
``Rick Lazio is an outstanding congressman who is a rising
star in our party. ... Rick Lazio would be a very strong
candidate,'' Pataki said. ``Nevertheless, I have asked
Congressman Lazio to defer his announcement and await the
mayor's decision.''
Lazio, who could not immediately be reached for comment
Friday, has said he would not run if Pataki asked him to bow
out of the race.
Asked if he held any lingering resentment toward Giuliani,
who had endorsed Mario Cuomo for governor over Pataki, the
governor said, ``Obviously it was a disappointment, but you
can't look backward. You have to look forward.''
Giuliani is widely expected to run for the Senate, as is Mrs.
Clinton who has been traveling the state in an effort to
overcome the ``carpetbagger'' charge leveled against her.
Campaigning in Rochester, Mrs. Clinton said her planned
summer-long ``listening tour'' of New York could extend well
into the fall.
She called for a common standard for coverage of political
candidates that does not invade their privacy.
``I don't think it serves our nation or our political process well
for people to have every shred of privacy taken away from
them,'' she said. ``I don't think that's good and I'm speaking
as someone who's been through it, so I have some experience
in that regard.''
At his news conference, Pataki was asked why he didn't
endorse Giuliani earlier. ``I was waiting until the end of the
legislative session, but I've thought for some time that this was
the right decision,'' he said.
He also said he wanted to be sure his announcement came
before Lazio's planned entry into the race the week of Aug. 16.
``I wanted to make sure my position was known to him and
to the others within this state prior to his making that
determination,'' Pataki said.
The governor told reporters that he spoke to both Giuliani and
Lazio before making his announcement and that D'Amato was
aware of his position.
``I agree with the governor's decision that Rudy Giuliani has
earned the right to be our party's nominee,'' D'Amato said in a
statement. ``I am certain that if he runs he will have my
support and the overwhelming support of the Republican Party
throughout the state. I urge the mayor to get into the race
soon and unify the Republican Party.''
Several Republican leaders, including state Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno and Staten Island Borough President Guy
Molinari, had encouraged Lazio not to run against Giuliani.
``A bloody primary obviously would be very costly,'' Molinari
said.
State Republican Chairman William D. Powers said Giuliani
would make a formidable candidate and that his running
``will allow a true New Yorker to serve as our U.S. senator.''
© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press[/quote]
Heheheh....can you say "meat grinder", Hillary?
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"