Giuliani, Clinton, Lazio camps discuss soft money ban

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Campaign aides to Senate candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Rick Lazio were meeting at a Manhattan hotel Thursday to discuss a possible ban on soft money contributions in the hotly contested New York race.

Lazio, a Republican congressman from Long Island, continued to press his Democratic rival on the issue Thursday. "What my concern is here is that in the next few days, the Clinton campaign will bob and weave and wade and duck," he told reporters. Soft money generally refers to the unregulated campaign donations to political parties and advocacy groups.

On Wednesday, Lazio said he had agreements from 14 conservative groups pledging to halt their soft money advertising on his behalf if Clinton also agreed to a ban on soft money contributions from her supporters.

Clinton had proposed a ban on soft money contributions months ago when her opponent was New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who later dropped out of the race, but she has since been less clear on the issue. She said Wednesday her campaign aides with meet with the Lazio camp to discuss his latest proposal.

"America has its eyes fixed on this Senate race," Lazio said. "This is New York's opportunity and my opportunity and, frankly, Mrs. Clinton's opportunity to make a statement about our commitment to campaign finance reform. We don't need a law to do the right thing."

A new statewide poll showed the race to be a dead heat, while another gives Clinton the lead. A Marist poll of likely voters found 48 percent support for each candidate with 4 percent undecided. A New York Times/CBS poll gave Clinton a 9 point lead over Lazio, 48 to 39 percent.