Liberal Party endorses Hillary for the Senate

June 4, 2000
Web posted at: 1:20 a.m. EDT (0520 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN)-- Calling her the "quintessential New Yorker," leaders and members of the state's Liberal Party endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday as a candidate for the United States Senate.

"What is, as the song says, a native New Yorker?," asked Martin Begun, vice president of the Liberal Party. "Being a New Yorker is a matter of spirit, not a matter of origin ... New York has always embraced newcomers."

Clinton said she was honored and very grateful for the nomination, and she thanked the party for "believing in her candidacy.

"This will be a tough and invigorating campaign and I am looking forward to every day of it," she said.

Clinton said although she and her Republican opponent, Rep. Rick Lazio, seem to share the same rhetoric, they do not share the same record. She said one of her goals is to improve the conditions in schools around the state, while Lazio voted against school construction.

She said Lazio will cut off funds for abortions for poor women and also opposes licensing and registration of hand guns.

"Now those are the wrong choices. I am proud to stand with you for the right choices," she said.

Clinton also announced that she would not be attending the Independence Party Convention on Monday because she did not want to run on the same line with Patrick Buchanan. She said she did not see how she could represent New York State, with all its diversity, and be aligned with Buchanan and "his history of anti-semitic and divisive, and intolerant comments."

Lazio is expected to receive the nod from the Conservative Party later Saturday.