Pataki push for Commish to take on Hill (NY Senate)

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PATAKI PUSH FOR COMMISH TO TAKE ON HILL

January 5, 2006 -- ALBANY — Gov. Pataki yesterday unexpectedly boosted state Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia Novello as a "strong candidate" to challenge U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the November election.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Pataki strongly suggested he would back her "if she chose to run," a move that may be aimed at blocking the Senate candidate of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, with whom Pataki has clashed in the past.

Spencer emerged as the likely GOP challenger to Clinton after former Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro dropped her long-troubled candidacy two weeks ago.

Pataki's statement came as a mystery effort on a Web site to "draft" Novello got under way but, so far, nobody is owning up to being behind it.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/59920.htm