In a surprise announcement last night, a former senator from New York, Al D’Amato, said he is backing a former senator from Tennessee, Fred Thompson, for president.

“I think he can provide America with the kind of leadership that the people desperately need and that this country needs,” Mr. D’Amato said of Mr. Thompson on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” political program. “And, you know, if America doesn’t have a leader that people can look up to, the world is in trouble.”

The announcement may come as a surprise to some who expected Mr. D’Amato to endorse his hometown candidate, Mayor Giuliani. However, Messrs. D’Amato and Giuliani have had a rocky

relationship over the years, dating back at least to 1989, when Mr. D’Amato encouraged a well-funded challenge to Mr. Giuliani in the Republican primary for mayor. Mr. Giuliani went on in 1994 to endorse Governor Cuomo for reelection over Mr. D’Amato’s handpicked candidate, Governor Pataki.

Erroneous reports also circulated in March that Mr. D’Amato was getting behind Senator McCain of Arizona in the Republican primary. At the time, a statement of clarification from Mr. D’Amato’s spokesman said that while the former senator “has very high esteem for his dear friend, Senator McCain,” he

had “made absolutely no commitment to any candidate for the 2008 presidential election.”

Mr. D’Amato’s move also might be seen as an indication of where Mr. Pataki’s sympathies will ultimately rest. He has been spotted in recent weeks meeting with Mr. Thompson in Manhattan.