ALBANY – Senior Republicans were hoping yesterday that Gov. Pataki won’t run for U.S. Senate next year – even as a new Post Poll showed him in position to beat First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton if he did.
Key GOP officials said they feared a Senate run by Pataki – who’s announced he’ll make a “major political announcement” tomorrow – would spark a Republican “civil war,” putting him on yet another bloody political collision course with Mayor Giuliani, a likely Senate candidate.
Such a battle, they said, would only benefit the Democratic candidate for Senate – who may well be the First Lady herself.
Nervous Republicans were taking solace in reports yesterday that Pataki’s announcement would be the endorsement of Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s presidential campaign.
But some close to Pataki also said it was possible the governor would discuss the Senate race, provoking anxiety – and confusion – among state party leaders.
“Frankly, it’s tough to get excited when you really don’t know what’s going on,” said state Sen. Guy Velella, the Bronx GOP chairman who is on good terms with both Pataki and Giuliani.
“I’m waiting until I hear it from the horse’s mouth to decide if I should be excited,” Velella continued.
Conservative Party leader Michael Long, a strong Pataki political ally, said he thought the governor “may have something to say about the Senate race” tomorrow, partly because the governor didn’t invite Giuliani to his announcement.
“That may be why Rudy won’t be there,” said Long, who has not been invited to join the state’s leading Republican officials at the press conference.
A senior Republican official, who requested anonymity, said he thought there was “a strong likelihood that, while Pataki will back Bush, he’ll also take a shot at Giuliani over the Senate race and say something nice about Rick Lazio.”
Rep. Rick Lazio is the favorite of Pataki and former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato to block Giuliani’s quest for the Senate nomination, party insiders say.