George W. Bush Wins Backing of N.Y. Gov. Pataki for Presidency

Gov. George Pataki, flanked Monday by most of the state’s Republican leadership, endorsed George W. Bush’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination. “I’m going to count on you for the state of New York,” the Texas governor told him.

That is no easy task. The state, with a 5-3 Democratic advantage in registration, hasn’t backed the Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan carried it twice, in 1980 and 1984.

Pataki is the 16th Republican governor to endorse Bush, who has said he won’t start campaigning until the conclusion of the Texas legislative session at the end of the month.

Using a satellite hookup, Pataki told Bush: “This is the team that in November of 2000 is going to shock the world by electing George W. Bush and carrying New York state.”

Pataki cooled speculation that he might run for the Senate. He said that although he had learned in politics that “you never say never . . . let me make it very plain: At this point, I have no intention of running for the Senate.”

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is weighing a run for the Democratic nomination for the Senate.

Pataki wouldn’t say whether he is interested in being Bush’s running mate. “This day is about the presidency,” he said.