The fact remains that he DID 'chicken out' when it came to running against her in 2006--so Liz is absolutely correct!! He obviously had Senatorial ambitions--or he never would have even considered a Senate run in 2000.
In 2006, a little over a year ago (when his health was NOT an issue, as he was beginning to start his Presidential run)--he could have run against Hillary and done his state, his party and his nation a great favor by removing her from the Senate--but, as Liz stated, he DID 'chicken out'.
He could have kept the Senate in Republican hands--seriously damaged Slick Hillie's Presidential ambitions--while enhancing his own (maybe even with some conservatives)--but he 'chickened out'--and did that in the state that knows him best, loves him, and is most 'in-tune' with his liberal leanings.
I submit that he chickened out for three reasons. First, he knew he would lose. Second, (to use his own words when describing Slick's positions vs. his own several years ago)--Slick Hillie's liberal social positions aren't all that different than his in a liberal state like NY. Third, he did not want to even take a chance on losing and wrecking his own Presidential ambitions.
So Liz is NOT lying--in fact, she was 'right on the mark'.
No one is talking about his dropping out of the 2000 race, that was understandable because of his cancer.
Oh, I'll say it - he chickened out in 2000.
When he first announced he had cancer, he made a big deal about how the treatment wouldn't affect his schedule. His doctors talked at one of his press conferences confirming this. He didn't stop being mayor of New York during his treatment. And yet the illness forced him to quit a race he was already losing.