December 21, 2005 -- EXCLUSIVE
ALBANY — Hapless Republican Senate candidate Jeanine Pirro has moved up her timetable and will switch to the attorney general's race tomorrow or Friday, sources close to her campaign said last night.
Westchester County District Attorney Pirro is expected to hold a short press conference to make the announcement, and then say she'll officially kick off her new campaign early next year, the sources said.
State GOP leaders called on Pirro last week to abandon her effort to challenge Democratic incumbent Hillary Rodham Clinton in the wake of a string of campaign missteps and the inability to raise substantial amounts of cash.
They were also motivated by a realization that the state's small but influential Conservative Party was unwilling to endorse Pirro for Senate because of her liberal social views on issues such as abortion and gay rights.
But the Conservatives are open to endorsing her for attorney general.
One of those calling for her to switch to the attorney general's contest was Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer), who gave Albany radio station WROW-AM yesterday the first hint that Pirro was close to making an announcement by saying he expected her to switch in the next few days.
While Pirro had been expected to make the announcement in early January — right after she gives up the district attorney's office — she decided to move up her timetable because of family obligations including caring for her ailing mother, sources said.
"A number of things have come together that have made her decide that this is the right time," said a source.
Gov. Pataki and even Pirro's own husband, Albert, have also been involved in trying to convince her to run for attorney general — fearful that she would suffer a humiliating defeat if she stayed in the Senate race.
While a Quinnipiac poll last week showed Pirro running a stronger race for attorney general then she could run for U.S. Senate, she's now widely viewed in Republican ranks as damaged goods with a greatly reduced chance of defeating whoever is the Democratic attorney general candidate.
Other potential Republican attorney general candidates include Sen. Michael Balboni of Nassau County and state Criminal Justice Coordinator Chauncey Parker, a top Pataki aide.
Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, who was also seeking the GOP nomination for Senate, is considered the favorite to replace Pirro as Clinton's likely challenger.
fredric.dicker@nypost.com
GOOD! She was running a lousy campaign. Spencer is the better candidate.
When I first heard of Pirro considering a statewide run about One year ago, I knew the whole thing would blow up. She can't get re-elected in Weschester as DA how is she going to win statewide? Add to that all the stuff about her criminal husband and you have a recipe for disaster. No surprise that the NYS GOP and Pataki liked her so much.
It looks like it's official: The NY Senate race will be Yonkers vs. Bonkers.
(Actually, Hillary is more evil than crazy, but it wouldn't rhyme if it was Yonkers vs. Evil.)
John Spencer can get conservatives to the polls. He can get pro life and anti gay "marriage" people to the polls. He can get conservative Democrats out for him. He will raise money nationwide, just as Lazio did. Only this time even more so since the thought of the beast in the oval office will make people puke. Lazio raised 40 million in 6 months. John will do as well and will have no trouble getting press coverage. This is 2006. The new media has grown six times stronger. There will be no bull s%^t phony press conferences for the beast. She WILL be answering Peter Paul's questions in a LA Civil Court. Those questions will be tough and embarrassing. The all out war atmosphere in DC COULD actually, really, no BS, get her criminal charges because A) she is in fact guilty of campaign finance fraudulent reporting and B) who she is. The guys who will decide if she should be indicted are the same guys who could face her in 08. You do the math. This race will be an all out war. The beast's campaign consultant blew this BIG TIME. He did EVERYTHING he could to get rid of Jeannine in the mistaken belief that SHE would be the hardest challenger. WRONG howie boy. Very wrong. You jumped wrong and now you and the beast are in for a real election.
This is good news.
In theory, Jeanine Pirro was a great choice to run against Hillary Rodham Clinton. She had won county-wide elections in a liberal area, was not vulnerable to attack as an "extemist" in a liberal state, and had some celebrity. But what worked in theory didn't work in practice. She proved herself to be completely inept and not up to the task of running for the Senate. Her departure can only help matters.
However, in light of her dismal performance on the campaign trail, it's unclear to me whether she can win the Attorney General race.
John Spencer is the best option we have.
What an absolute joke. My dear mother up in Queens might as well throw her hat in the ring for all the chances the Republicans have of winning the seat. They might as well just let Hillary run unopposed and funnel the money towards some actual competitive races where its needed.