http://www.polstate.com/archives/004965.html#004965
For a long time it's looked as though he would run unopposed as several high profile Republicans have passed on the opportunity to challenge Chuck Schumer for his Senate seat. But now an intrepid Assemblyman has said he will take the plunge. Party leaders have said he will have no trouble locking down his party's nomination.
Mills, the state Assembly's deputy Republican minority leader, faces enormous obstacles, including Schumer's $20 million campaign war chest, more than any other senator up for re-election this year.
"I know he's got a tremendous bank account, but he doesn't have a record," Mills told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. "We will have enough money to get that message out."
One would think that Mills will get plenty of assistance from national party leaders as well as they gear up for the Republican convention that's being held in NYC less than a week before 9/11. Schumer's people responded diplomatically to the challenge, though the reporter does not indicate whether the spokesman was snickering when he commented.
Schumer spokesman Phil Singer, asked about Mills' candidacy, said "Chuck's going to continue to work hard to be the best senator he can be for New York and he's not looking over his shoulder."
Wasting no time on nicities, Mills went negative straight out of the gate:
``Sen. Schumer is a senator who runs to press conferences on Sunday, but he isn't interested in delivering for New York on Monday,'' said Mills, referring to Schumer's penchant for Sunday news releases and appearances. ``I recognize that to get things done, you have to work with both sides. That's in contrast with Sen. Schumer, who has a reputation as one of the most partisan senators in Washington.''
No word yet on whether Mills will pull a Rick Lazio and challenge his opponent not to accept out of state funds. Lazio's challenge ended badly for him as he was whipped by Hillary Clinton in both fundraising and at the polls losing 55%-43%. Mills faces a decidedly uphill battle in both regards, but is confident that he can both win the election and a greater amount of federal spoils for New York.
Today, Mills insisted he has entered the election against Schumer as a serious candidate and not a sacrificial lamb who has been promised a lucrative appointment in return for agreeing to run. Mills said he plans to focus on Schumer not ``delivering'' for New York, and that he, as a Republican, would be in the majority in the Senate and therefore more able to get things done.