The primary for the right to challenge Senator Clinton may have turned into a dud after the departure of Edward Cox, but the gubernatorial primary is something else entirely. While Ms. Pirro is falling all over herself to argue that she’s just like Mrs. Clinton on issues such as Supreme Court nominations, the Republican candidates for governor are falling all over themselves to compete as fiscal conservatives.

Yesterday, Governor Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts and by many accounts the most “liberal” Republican in the race, was in Washington to sign a pledge to not hike taxes. When informed of Mr. Weld’s move, one of his competitors, John Faso, retorted that simply not raising taxes isn’t enough and vowed to present a raft of specific proposals to reduce them. A senior advisor for candidate Randy Daniels, Robert Ryan, told us that Mr. Daniels also will sign the same pledge Mr. Weld has because Mr. Daniels “believes in cutting taxes, cutting spending and shrinking the size of government” as the only way to “make New York’s economy grow.” A fourth candidate, Thomas Golisano, features a statement on his Web site that “New York State must get taxes, spending and borrowing under control.”

Also this week, Mr. Weld came out with twin proposals to keep state and local spending under control, by capping state revenue growth at the rate of inflation plus population growth and limiting local property taxes to 2.5% of property values in a community and limiting increases to no more than 2.5%. Expect similarly concrete salvos to follow from his competitors in the weeks to come. Empire State Republicans will have their hands full between now and primary day sorting out all these tax- and spending-restraint candidates.

Until the others start promulgating their programs it will be too soon to judge, although by our lights we prefer supply-size measures aimed at restoring incentives to Mr. Weld’s limiting the rate of increase in taxes and spending. It is also important not to discount the role the candidates’ differences on social issues will play in the primary. But for now, Republicans can smile despite a disappointing Senate race. The party is about to witness four candidates vying for a mandate to challenge the Democrats on fiscal policy in the Empire State.