Printer-Friendly Version

Page 2 of 3

The Marist College poll showed well-known Republicans like Gov. George Pataki, former U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as the strongest potential opponents for Clinton, but none of the three is expected to run.

Other possible GOP contenders include New York State Health Commissioner Antonia Novello and tax lawyer William Brenner of Sullivan County, N.Y. Novello served as the U.S. surgeon general from 1990 to 1993 under then-President George H.W. Bush and Brenner ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2004.

As Cybercast News Service previously reported Brenner bills himself as the "anti-Hillary" candidate and according to his campaign, "has never hidden his dislike for incumbent Senator Clinton, whom he deems 'an opportunistic carpetbagger with her sights set on the White House.'"

Cox, an attorney with the New York firm Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, is not expected to announce his official candidacy until the fall, but he is expected to have his website up in the next week.

"We are off exploring, talking to people and he is serious about a race against Hillary Clinton, though he is not a declared candidate as of yet," said Lynn Mueller, a political advisor to Cox in an interview with Cybercast News Service .

"We think New York deserves a senator who's going to represent New York and not do anything else," Mueller said.

'East coast Arnold Schwarzenegger'

The eventual GOP Senate nominee will face an incumbent Clinton with a 63 percent approval rating from New York State voters, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll released last week. Clinton never polled less than 60 percent of the vote when paired with any of her potential GOP rivals for Senate. The Quinnipiac poll showed that even Governor Pataki could not muster even a third of the voter against Clinton. A head to head match up with Giuliani was not taken.

Clinton is expected to have no trouble raising money for her Senate re-election campaign. During the first three months of 2005, she had already raised nearly $4 million in contributions and had $8.7 million in the bank. In 2000 she spent an estimated $30 million to defeat Lazio in what was regarded as the most expensive Senate race in New York history.

Lazio did not have to face an incumbent in 2000. Six years later, Brecht and the other Republican candidates face even longer odds.

"[Clinton's] popularity -- her numbers, are so high, it's amazing," Brecht said.

"I am no fool, I understand that what the situation requires is sort of an east coast Arnold Schwarzenegger -- somebody who is a household name, very well financed, and beloved," he explained.

"I will support that person when that person steps forward. As of now however, that person has not stepped forward," he added.

'Fraudulent statements'

Clinton's campaign fundraising has been under scrutiny recently. David Rosen, the former national finance director for the 2000 Senate campaign faces a four-count federal indictment charging that he "knowingly and willfully caused to be made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements" to the Federal Election Commission relating to campaign contributions. Rosen, who is scheduled to go on trial within the next two weeks, could face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 if convicted.

>> Continued -- Page 1 2 3

Copyright © 1998-2005 CNSNews.com - Cybercast News Service