N.Y. Senate candidate's résumé examined

NEW YORK, March 23 (UPI) -- The professional résumé of a Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat from New York has come under scrutiny.

Kathleen Troia McFarland has entered the race for the Republican nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. In trying to bolster a reputation as strong on defense issues, McFarland may have polished her roles while serving in government, The New York Times reported Thursday.

McFarland said she was the highest ranking woman at the Pentagon when she worked there during the Reagan administration, but the Times found at least two other women were of higher rank. However, one McFarland defender said the candidate had better access to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger than the other women.

McFarland also took credit for writing a part of President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" speech. The Times said participants in the speech's preparation said the key section about the strategic defense initiative was written by Reagan and top national security advisers.

McFarland told the newspaper she never claimed to have written the key passage and that she had been told she was the highest ranking woman at the Pentagon and never questioned the statement.