Posted on 05/03/2005 1:54:01 PM PDT by Patriot814
ALBANY — Dr. Antonia Novello, New York’s state health commissioner for the past six years and a former U.S. surgeon general, is considering a possible challenge to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2006 re-election bid, top New York political leaders said Monday. Michael Long, state chairman of New York’s Conservative Party, said he met with Novello about two weeks ago in New York City to discuss a possible run by her against the former first lady.
State Republican Chairman Stephen Minarik said he has had some “preliminary conversations” with Novello and some of her associates, but has not yet met with her about a possible Senate race.
“She is one of the many possible candidates we are taking a look at,” Minarik said.
“I had a very brief conversation with her and talked about the plusses and minuses,” Long said.
“I didn’t encourage her or discourage her,” the Conservative Party chairman added.
There was no immediate comment from the Puerto Rican-born Novello, who has never run for public office.
Long said the meeting with Novello was arranged by mutual acquaintances of the two. Long declined to say who had set up the meeting. Minarik declined to provide specifics about his conversations.
Novello served as surgeon general from 1990 to 1993 under then-President George H.W. Bush.
While Novello has been Republican Gov. George Pataki’s health commissioner since mid-1999, she and the governor disagree on the abortion issue. She is anti-abortion while he has been a supporter of abortion rights.
Pataki said Monday he had not talked with Novello about a possible run against Clinton, but that if she did run, “she’d obviously be a very, very strong candidate.”
Edward Cox, a Manhattan lawyer and a son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, is also eyeing the Senate race on the Republican side as are two other little-known contenders, former Wall Street public relations executive Adam Brecht and tax lawyer William Brenner. Some Republicans are also encouraging Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro to run for the Senate.
Clinton won the Senate seat in 2000 with an easy victory over then-U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio. Lazio became the GOP candidate after then-New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani withdraw from the Senate race after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Neither Giuliani nor Pataki has shown any interest thus far in personally taking on Clinton in next year’s Senate race.
Known as an advocate for children, minorities and the elderly, pediatrician Novello was the first Hispanic and the first woman to serve as surgeon general.
Does anyone here thinks she has a chance? Sorry if this has been posted already, I checked.
"Form surgeon general may challenge hillary"
Form surgeon? Must be a new specialty...
oh sorry former surgeon general
Doesn't pass the laugh test.
Isn't her brother the guy who played Father Guido Sarducci on SNL ?
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