Suddenly, New York Republicans have a serious, reasonably well-known candidate running against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
But try telling that to state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long.
Rep. Bob Turner, who turned the conventional wisdom on its head by winning Anthony Weiner’s heavily Democratic district in last year’s special election, is running against Gilly.
Not that he really had anywhere else to go — his Brooklyn-Queens seat is being vaporized by redistricting.
But Turner, a former TV executive, has shown a proven ability to raise money and campaign well in a decidedly unfavorable district.
Thus he looms large in what up to now has been a field of GOP non-entities.
Yet despite Turner’s entry, Long is continuing to stick with the least-known candidate out there — Wendy Long (no relation), a lawyer and conservative activist.
Also announced are Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.
Mike Long’s support makes his namesake the odds-on favorite for the Conservative nod at this weekend’s convention.
But why is he so unwilling to unite behind someone who has a reasonable chance to unseat Gillibrand?
After all, Mike Long didn’t care much about ideology back when he placed his party at the service of New York’s ultimately irresolute Gov. George Pataki.
As it is, any Republican — Turner included — has an uphill climb this fall.
Gillibrand has $8 million in the bank, and the New York GOP is so weak that it hasn’t won a US Senate race since the first George Bush was president.
But Turner at least has visibility and name recognition.
More important, he provides a marked — and welcome — contrast to Gillibrand. Not just because he’s a conservative, but because he actually has a consistent set of beliefs and positions.
In other words, he actually stands for something other than his own ambition.
Unlike Gillibrand, who all but renounced every position she ever took as a moderate House member once she was elevated to the Senate by David Paterson.
Now she’s hurtled so far left that she’s tied for first on the National Journal’s ranking of the most liberal senators.
The Republican and Conservative parties have a chance to unify behind a candidate with proven vote-getting abilities — provided Mike Long comes to his senses.