Jeanine F. Pirro, the Westchester County District Attorney has announced that she will challenge incumbent Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton for one of the United States Senate seats from New York.
Pirro announced that Mrs. Clinton's possible bid for the presidency would hurt New Yorkers in the Senate.
'I am running against Hillary Clinton because New York state deserves a senator who will give her all to the people of New York for a full term, who will not miss votes to campaign in (presidential) primaries,' Ms. Pirro said in a statement.
'When Mrs. Clinton first came to us and said she wanted to be a New Yorker, she asked New York to put out a welcome mat and we did,' Ms. Pirro added. 'But now she wants us to re-elect her even though she won't promise to serve out her term and wants to use us as a springboard to the presidency. She's asking us to become her doormat. I believe we deserve better.'
The official announcement of Ms. Pirro's candidacy is expected Wednesday. Pirro is considered a moderate Republican which is vital if she is to have a chance against Mrs. Clinton in a solidly 'blue' state.
As Westchester County D.A., the 53-year-old Pirro has taken a hard stance against domestic violence and has become an advocate of Internet stings to catch suspected child molesters. She has often made appearances on Fox News and other television shows.
Pirro's only declared Republican opponent is Ed Cox, Richard Nixon's son-in-law. National Republicans think both candidates would be strong picks to give Mrs. Clinton a challenge for her seat.
Pirro has close ties with present New York Governor George Pataki who allegedly has presidential ambitions of his own.
Other possible Republican candidates in a primary for the Senate seat include former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer and William Brenner, a tax attorney from Sullivan County.
