The state Conservative Party yesterday nominated Republican legal scholar Wendy Long (pictured) as its nominee to take on Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand in the race for US Senate.
The backing from the minor party boosts Long’s status as the front-runner to win a three-way primary contest for the GOP nomination.
The Conservative Party backing of Long is a blow to Rep. Bob Turner (R-Queens), who announced a late entry into the race. His congressional district is being eliminated this year. Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos is the other GOP contender.
State Conservative Party chairman Mike Long and Turner, who shocked the political world by winning Democrat Anthony Weiner’s old congressional seat last year, are personal friends and neighbors.
But Long said Wendy Long (no relation), who was once a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is the class of the field.
Wendy Long, in her nomination speech, went on the attack immediately. She said Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid demeaned women by calling Gillibrand “hot,” which drew groans from the delegates.
But Gillibrand, who has amassed an $8 million campaign war chest, is clearly the favorite to cruise to re-election.