EW YORK - Calling the state's Republican primary ballot process Byzantine, presidential hopeful John McCain said yesterday he will file a federal lawsuit in an effort to change the process before the March 7 primary.
The Arizona senator said getting on the ballot was easy in other states - in New Hampshire he paid a $500 filing fee - but that New York's Republican primary system was heavily weighted to exclude, rather than include candidates.
''In 49 other states Republican voters have the ability to make a choice without the obviously confusing and Byzantine situation that exists here in New York state,'' he said.
In New York, candidates must collect the signatures of 1,000 or 0.5 percent of party members, whichever is less, in any congressional district where they want to put delegate slates into competition. In effect, New York has 31 separate GOP primaries, one in each congressional district. The Democratic primary process operates under the same rules.
Petitions collected in any district can be challenged, which McCain's state campaign chairman said gives those with the most support and money an unfair advantage over less experienced campaign volunteers such as McCain's, said Staten Island Borough president Guy Molinari, chair of McCain's state campaign.
''The process we have in New York state is deliberately skewed in favor of the political establishment. We all know that,'' Molinari said.
Only candidates Steve Forbes and Texas Governor George W. Bush are expected to be on the Republican ballot for the primary, which will be held the same day as California and 13 other states.
McCain said he did not believe Governor George Pataki, a Bush supporter, and State GOP chairman William Powers were intentionally trying to keep him off the ballot.
McCain wants the process changed so that ''every viable candidate in the state'' can appear on the ballot. He also called on Bush and Pataki to support the lawsuit to change the GOP balloting process.
But that appeared unlikely.
''There's no reason anyone can't get on the ballot if they really want to get on the ballot,'' said Pataki spokesman Michael McKeon. ''If you make the effort, you can get it done.''
