So, he didn't choose to run, and I believe this is why she had no other competition. If she couldn't win honestly, there is always vote fraud to rely on. ;-)
I give Lazio credit for going up against her. In fact, Rush mentioned today about the debate in which Lazio walked toward "her" to ask her to sign a pledge--the man was crucified as giving the appearance he was threatening her.
So help me, I can't see a Dem losing a race unless there is a glitch why they can't count dead, twice, and otherwise stuff the ballot boxes.
Hillary won by a wide margin due to the fact that the City comprised the majority of the electorate in 2000 and the Clintons are very popular there (firefighters and cops for NYC typically commute from upstate and Lawn Guyland). Dems always have an advantage in statewide elections, with moderate Republicans only winning in cases of low voter turnout or when Dems nominate a candidate considered unacceptable to a substantial portion of their coalition. In other words, New York is politically hopeless for all but the most liberal Republican, with even moderates having trouble at the local level.