UFFALO - His fresh face marred by a fat lip incurred in a fall, US Representative Rick Lazio pledged to take ''our message of hope, opportunity, and responsibility'' across the state as his Republican Party's leadership nominated him yesterday to battle Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York's high-profile US Senate race.
To the cheers of more than 400 delegates and hundreds more in attendance, Lazio was declared the unanimous choice of the party's state convention.
With the ''Rocky'' theme blaring from loudspeakers, the bruised congressman from Long Island took the stage to declare: ''I am the underdog in this race.''
''My opponent is better financed and better known. She comes to New York with the support of every left-wing special interest, from Washington insiders to the Hollywood elite,'' Lazio, 42, told the delegates in a longer than 25-minute speech. ''But as I've said before, `Bring 'em on.' Because when it comes to representing the needs, concerns and values of the people of New York, I have one advantage she'll never have: I can be myself. I am a New Yorker.''
While not criticizing Clinton by name, Lazio accused ''the opposition camp'' of practicing the ''politics of division. ... It is a bleak, angry place, built of fear. And I will not go there.''
Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said the congressman had ''offered the people of New York recycled insults and rhetoric that doesn't match his record. Time and time again Rick Lazio has voted against New York's working families in Washington.
''Hillary Clinton has been running an inclusive campaign since day one and fighting for children and families for 30 years,'' Wolfson added. ''New Yorkers will always be able to count on Hillary to stand up for them in the Senate.''
Republicans have been dismissing the first lady's star power advantage, maintaining the race would now become one of issues and experience rather than celebrity. They also took note of the New York City's mayor's testiness and seeming lack of enthusiasm for the Senate race.
''Rudy was certainly better known than Rick is, initially, but with that were a lot of pluses and minuses,'' state GOP chairman William Powers said before yesterday's convention began. ''Rick seems to have all of the pluses and not as many of the minuses.''
Lazio arrived in Buffalo as a wounded warrior. He tripped Monday during a Memorial Day parade on Long Island, hitting the ground and splitting his lip. It required eight stitches to close.
