NY Sen: Pirro Is Out

The New York Republican Party is a never-ending soap opera. The New York Post (registration required) is reporting that Jeanine Pirro is dropping out of the New York Senate race this Friday to run for State Attorney General.

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.

Ok, that makes a lot of sense (sarcasm). Republicans are desperately trying to save some dignity for themselves.

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.

So, they would rather someone else suffer a humiliating defeat? Seems to me the whole party has become a laughing stock. Anyway, Jeanine is not going to have a clear shot at the AG nomination.  

Other potential Republican attorney general candidates include Sen. Michael Balboni of Nassau County and state Criminal Justice Coordinator Chauncey Parker, a top Pataki aide.

The former mayor of Yonkers, John Spencer, will likely replace Pirro. The Balboni candidacy is a big reason the party wants Pirro in run. Democrats have been making gains in Nassau  and, if Balboni's seat is vacant, could easily turn blue as well, jeopardizing the Republican Senate Majority. Personally, I don't think there is anything the GOP can do to stop the blue tsunami that is about to sweep the state of New York.