Lazio catching up with Hillary

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

NEW YORK, JUNE 13. Along with the Presidential election of November 7, the New York Senate race was supposed to have been a major sideshow with a lot of political and media interest. The fact that the New York City Mayor, Mr. Rudy Giuliani, has pulled out of the race against the First Lady, Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton, has not diminished the importance of this crucial battle between the Republicans and the Democrats.

The contest between Mr. Giuliani and Mrs Clinton was supposed to have all the elements of a tough battle. But the emergence of the Long Island Congressman, Mr. Rick Lazio, as the lead opponent against the Democrats promises a keen show in the next four months.

What has baffled many analysts and political analysts in the country is the manner in which Mr. Lazio has closed the gap. Even more pointed has been the fact that the First Lady and her campaign have not been able to cash in on the withdrawal of Mr. Giuliani who was until recently seen as the ``only'' candidate who could give the First Lady a solid challenge.

Almost all recent polls in the State of New York have shown Mrs Clinton and Mr. Lazio locked in a tie. Very few polls have shown either one of them getting even a slender lead. According to one reckoning, Mr. Lazio's campaign was supposed to have gathered momentum only after Labour Day in September. But within two weeks of throwing his hat in the ring, he has emerged strong.

Equally baffling has been the absence of the harping on the Giuliani phenomenon. From the time the Mayor bowed out of the contest, the attention of the State Republicans and the opponents has quickly shifted to Mr. Lazio. One of the pet themes of the Democrats in New York is that Mr. Lazio was very much a part of the ``Contract with America'' agenda of right wing Conservatives led by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Newt Gingrich. The Clinton campaign is trying to paint a picture of Mr. Lazio as one of those instrumental for cutting down spending on education and health besides shutting down the Federal Government in 1995.

Ever since entering the fray on May 20, Mr. Lazio has wasted no time in hammering away at many themes, including one that he is from New York; and unlike the First Lady, has had eight years of experience in Congress. Added to this, Mr. Lazio has been quite busy - and successful - at enlisting the support of key Republicans in the State and elsewhere.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Russia, U.S. fail to bridge rift over NMD
Next     : U.S. physicists march against missile shield