Pirro Lights Up Her Crowd Even As She Concedes Race

Until Jeanine Pirro swept in to take her farewell bow at the Women's National Republican Club last night in Midtown, the crowd was all furrowed brows.

Her most enthusiastic fan was Karim Simmons, 38, of Queens, who was waiting outside the building with a sign around his neck that read: "Jeanine is Number 1."

"She's a tough woman," he said, grinning."That's why I fell in love with her."

When she walked in at about 10 p.m. with her mother, son, and daughter in tow, the crowd of about 100 supporters lit up and began chanting, "Pirro, Pirro, Pirro." Wearing a fulgent red suit and pristine make-up, she beamed, and announced she had lost the race to the Democratic candidate for state attorney general, Andrew Cuomo.

"The people have spoken. They rendered their verdict. And I accept it," she said.

With 60% of precincts reporting, Mr. Cuomo had 60% of the votes, Ms. Pirro 38%.

Alluding to problems with her husband that emerged in the last 30 days before Election Day, Ms. Pirro said New York State needed to stick together, despite the "false parameters of parties."

"Like any family, there are differences and disputes," she said. "But we are not going to let our family be destroyed."

Chatter swirled behind her as she was whisked out of the building to a waiting sport utility vehicle, kissing as many supporters as she could grab and telling them: "I love you." The feeling among the crowd was that she would now take a vacation, and perhaps return as a television commentator.

The associate director of admissions at Pace University, Ingrid Barnes, 46, had higher aspirations for Ms. Pirro, a former district attorney of Westchester County.

"I'd love her to run against Hillary down the road," she said. "I think it would be good to look into governor."