Republicans: Pirro to Abandon Senate Race and Run For Attorney General

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The New York Sun

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Jeanine Pirro has decided to halt her struggling campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2006 re-election bid and will run instead for state attorney general, two Republicans close to the situation said Wednesday.


The Republicans, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information, said an announcement from the high-profile Westchester County district attorney could come as early as Thursday.


There was no immediate comment from Pirro.


One of the Republicans said the knowledge of Pirro’s plans came from a direct conversation with her.


The New York Post, quoting unidentified sources close to the Pirro campaign, had reported Wednesday that Pirro would announce the move either Thursday or Friday.


Pirro has been under pressure from top state GOP leaders to make the switch. It would leave Republicans with two active candidates for the Senate nomination, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, who is not well-known statewide, and tax attorney William Brenner, even less well-known.


Some supporters expected Manhattan lawyer Edward Cox, a son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, to consider re-entering the race. Cox halted his campaign for the Senate nomination in October after Gov. George Pataki announced his endorsement of Pirro.


Pataki’s endorsement was the high point for a troubled Pirro campaign. She has had trouble raising money, and at her announcement in August, a page of her speech was misplaced and she was left speechless for 32 seconds.


Independent polls have shown the former first lady, a potential 2008 presidential contender, with huge leads over Pirro and the other potential GOP challengers. And, as of the end of September, Clinton had about $14 million in her campaign coffers.


Pirro, a supporter of abortion and gay rights, also had major problems in her attempts to court support from leaders of the state Conservative Party. No Republican running statewide in New York has won without Conservative Party support since 1974.


Michael Long, the Conservative Party state chairman, said Wednesday he had always urged Pirro to run for state attorney general rather than the Senate.


The New York Sun

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