Bruno to Pirro: Drop out of race

BY ERROL A. COCKFIELD JR | ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

November 30, 2005

ALBANY - The state's second most powerful Republican sent a tremor through GOP ranks yesterday when he said Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro should abandon her challenge of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and instead run for attorney general.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) said Pirro was more suited to be the state's top prosecutor because of her criminal justice background, and insiders agreed that the timing of his comments illustrated growing fault lines within the state GOP.

"She would be of greater service to a state ticket," Bruno told a group of reporters at the state capitol yesterday.

Pirro issued a statement yesterday, making it clear where her intentions stood. "Senator Bruno is a respected majority leader and I appreciate his confidence in my abilities," she said. "However, I am a candidate for U.S. Senate."

Others viewed Bruno's comments as a message to state Sen. Michael Balboni (R-East Williston) that he should not pursue a run for attorney general.

Bruno and other members of the Republican-led Senate have told Balboni they need him to hold onto his seat to maintain control of the Senate after the 2006 elections. Next year, Democrats are expected to make a strong showing.

Bruno's words did not deter Balboni, who said many leaders had embraced the idea of his name on a statewide ticket.

But Bruno's comments also represented a fractious atmosphere that has developed in the GOP over the formulation of a slate for 2006, with Bruno on one side and Gov. George Pataki and his hand-picked state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik on the other. Pataki and Minarik have fully backed Pirro's campaign for U.S. Senate.

The differences over the direction of the party have become more visible in recent days. Last week Minarik scheduled a Dec. 12 meeting in Albany for local party leaders to endorse a partial slate.

Bruno protested, saying other candidates may emerge. He reiterated his displeasure yesterday, saying a slate should not be chosen this early. "It's not in the best interest of the Republican Party," he said.

Other influential GOP members, such as gubernatorial candidates John Faso, a former Assembly minority leader, and Randy Daniels, former secretary of state, have complained that Minarik is trying to exert too much control instead of letting county leaders democratically choose candidates.

A spokeswoman said Minarik was not taking calls yesterday.

Those close to Bruno say his comments stem from fears the GOP may lose not only the governor's seat but also the Senate.