  
| 
| ||||||||||||
Another potential Clinton challenger bows outNew York GOP again scrambling for a candidateFrom Phil Hirschkorn NEW YORK (CNN) -- Ed Cox, the son-in-law of Richard Nixon who launched and then suspended a campaign to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, has decided to sit out the 2006 race. "After careful consideration of the circumstances and conditions as they exist surrounding the race, including the now-shortened time frame available to run an aggressive and effective campaign, I will not seek my party's nomination," Cox, a Republican, said in a written statement Thursday. Last summer, Cox, a 58-year-old Manhattan lawyer, began seeking elective office for the first time, believing he had the backing of state Republican leaders. But when Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, 54, entered the race in August and received a public endorsement from three-term Republican Gov. George Pataki, Cox withdrew. Cox had raised and spent $1.3 million barnstorming the state. His latest Federal Election Commission report showed him with $38,357 cash on hand. After Pirro's campaign sputtered through a marred announcement speech and sluggish fund-raising, a majority of the state's 62 Republican county chairs pushed her to run for state attorney general. Pirro quit the contest last month, and Cox had since been reconsidering the Senate race. He told reporters last week that an endorsement from Pataki was a condition of his return, but Pataki advisers indicated the governor would remain silent. "On behalf of many Republican county chairmen, State Chairman (Stephen) Minarik asked me to consider restarting my campaign," Cox said in his statement. "I have been honored by these and other renewed expressions of support from many county and state GOP leaders and other New Yorkers. "I am extremely grateful to the thousands of New Yorkers who gave me their unwavering support and encouragement during my campaign. I will maintain my commitment to support public policies which benefit New Yorkers and will remain active in building a strong Republican Party for our state." Focus turns to SpencerClinton, 58, seeking re-election for the first time, had nearly $14 million cash on hand at the end of September and is due to file her end-of-year campaign report with the Federal Election Commission next week. The leading Republican hopeful is now John Spencer, 59, a conservative two-term former mayor of Yonkers, New York's fourth-most-populous city. Spencer, a Vietnam veteran who opposes abortion rights, gun control and affirmative action, has raised less than $1 million. "Ed Cox is a good man and a great asset to the New York Republican Party," said Spencer's spokesman, Christian Winthrop. "We wish him well as we continue to move forward in our campaign to defeat Senator Clinton." State Republican spokesperson Jamie King said a majority of the party's county chairs are backing Spencer. State Democrats, buoyed by Clinton's substantial lead in polls and fundraising, mocked the Republicans' difficulty fielding a candidate. "Will the state GOP settle for its eighth choice?" Democratic spokesman Blake Zeff said in a news release. Besides Pirro and Cox, Zeff listed the noteworthy Republicans who have passed on the race as Pataki, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Secretary of State and Bronx native Colin Powell, U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella, and state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello. 
|
| ||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
