Hillary Clinton Gives Rival Lazio an Upstate Battle

Republican Rick Lazio has found himself in an unexpected Senate campaign dogfight against Hillary Rodham Clinton for traditionally conservative upstate New York.

Several recent polls have shown Clinton edging ahead of Lazio statewide and running almost even with him in upstate New York, a danger signal for any Republican.

In 1998, then-Republican Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato captured 55% of the upstate vote to Democrat Charles E. Schumer’s 45% and still lost the race.

Last month, the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute reported the Democratic first lady leading the Long Island GOP congressman, 50% to 43%, among likely voters statewide. Upstate, Lazio was supported by 46% of voters to Clinton’s 44%, a statistical tie.

Since then, Lazio aides have shifted gears, earmarking about 15% more money for upstate television advertising than planned and having the candidate stump more in the region. New Lazio TV spots feature Republican Gov. George Pataki, who is particularly popular in upstate New York.

The revised strategy may be paying dividends. A Quinnipiac poll out Friday had Clinton still leading Lazio statewide, 50% to 43%, but showed him a bit better off upstate, leading 49% to 44%.

Part of Lazio’s problem is that Clinton has refused to concede the upstate region. She has campaigned heavily there since kicking off her campaign last year, fittingly, on the upstate farm of retiring Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the Democrat she hopes to replace in the Senate.

And, although she has faced carpetbagger charges, having moved into New York only in January, Lazio’s Long Island roots can be a liability when courting upstate voters.