ALBANY – State Republican officials confirmed yesterday that they have initiated talks with the state health commissioner, Antonia Novello, about a possible run against Senator Clinton next year.

The chairman of the state Conservative Party, Michael Long, said earlier this month that he met with Dr. Novello in April to discuss a possible run against Mrs. Clinton. But the chairman of the state Republican Party, Stephen Minarik, said at the time he had not met with the health commissioner about a senatorial race.

Yesterday, however, the executive director of the Republican State Committee, Ryan Moses, confirmed that Mr. Minarik recently met with Dr. Novello to discuss “the political landscape.” Mr. Moses declined to provide specifics on the meeting, but a source familiar with party strategy said it took place in Albany sometime this week.

“We had an initial meeting on it,” Mr. Moses said.

Asked yesterday by The New York Sun about a possible campaign against Mrs. Clinton, Dr. Novello did not deny she is thinking about it.

“I have absolutely no comment,” the 60-year-old physician said, following the dedication of a memorial outside the state Capitol for fallen emergency medical technicians. “I will talk, but not now.”

Dr. Novello, who was surgeon general for three years under the first President Bush, would present a stark contrast to Mrs. Clinton in a head-to-head race. A board-certified pediatrician, she is opposed to laws permitting abortion, she is popular among Republicans, and she is a native Spanish speaker.

Yesterday’s ceremony gave the health commissioner an opportunity to demonstrate her passionate style of public speaking. Other speakers at the dedication included Governor Pataki; the majority leader of the Senate, Joseph Bruno, and the speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver. Only Dr. Novello’s speech was interrupted by applause.

Mr. Long said yesterday that his first meeting with Dr. Novello was brief. He said she approached him for advice after a number of people had asked her to consider a run against Mrs. Clinton.

“I think this was only presented to her on the basis of people saying to her she should give some thought to a run for U.S. Senate, and the next thing I know, I was in the loop,” Mr. Long said. “I’d have to believe she’s contemplating it, and I told her I’d be willing to sit down and talk with her if she makes up her mind to move forward.”

Dr. Novello, who is divorced and has no children, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a clinical professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine. The state health commissioner since 1999, she lives in New York’s capital region.

Recent polls give Mrs. Clinton strong favorability numbers across the state.A Siena Research Institute poll last week found she had a 58% favorability rating among registered voters interviewed. Polls have found clear majorities of New Yorkers saying they would vote for her again.

A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Howard Wolfson, said he is pleased with the poll numbers but not complacent about next year’s race.

“We are pleased with the level of popularity she has achieved in New York,” Mr. Wolfson said. “Her poll numbers are good. But we don’t take anything for granted.”

Mr. Wolfson declined to comment on potential opponents, including Mrs. Novello.

“I’m not going to comment on any possible opponents,” he said. “A number of names have been mentioned. My assumption is that the Republicans will sort this out at some point and decide on a candidate.”

A son-in-law of Richard Nixon, Edward Cox, confirmed through a spokesman Tuesday he will soon establish an exploratory committee for a run against Mrs. Clinton. He is the first Republican to go that far.

Some have speculated that the district attorney of Westchester County, Jeanine Pirro, is considering a run against Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Pirro has repeatedly insisted she is focused on her current job.

Mrs. Clinton, when asked whether she hopes to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, offers similar responses.

Interviewed in connection with the possible Novello candidacy, Mr. Wolfson, a top political strategist for the former first lady, said Latino voters represent a potential swing group in a statewide race.

“I think the Latino vote is clearly important,” he said. “If you look at constituencies that can swing from Democrat to Republican, you’d have to include the Latino vote in that group. I think the Latino vote is critical.”

Asked about Mrs. Clinton’s strong poll numbers, Mr. Minarik said he expects they will slide once the Republicans decides on a candidate to oppose her.

“Right now the only spokesperson out there attacking her is me,” the GOP chairman said. “Once we get a candidate in place and that candidate is taking up the fight against her, then I believe those numbers will change.”

According to the polling director for the Quinnipiac Polling Institute, Maurice Carroll, Latino voters represent roughly 7% of registered voters in the state. He said he thinks the bloc is not big enough to make a substantial difference in a statewide race, even if it were to swing largely Republican.

“There’s not a big Latino population in New York State,” Mr. Carroll said. “But whatever it is, there is going to be more of it tomorrow. So every little bit helps.”