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Lazio out in N.Y.; no endorsement

NYP2000110731- 7 NOVEMBER 2000- NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: Rick Lazio, New York state candidate for U.S. Senate, waves to supporters as he is acompanied by his wife Patricia at his election headquarters where he gave a speech after loosing to first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York City on November 7, 2000. rw/mg/Monika Graff UPI
NYP2000110731- 7 NOVEMBER 2000- NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: Rick Lazio, New York state candidate for U.S. Senate, waves to supporters as he is acompanied by his wife Patricia at his election headquarters where he gave a speech after loosing to first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York City on November 7, 2000. rw/mg/Monika Graff UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, who lost the Republican gubernatorial primary Sept. 14, said Monday he won't be running as a Conservative Party candidate.

But Lazio said he was not endorsing the Republican victor, Carl Paladino, and appeared to be critical of his rival's campaign, WNYC AM-FM, New York, reported.

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Appearing with his wife at the Sheraton Hotel in midtown, Lazio said immediately after his primary defeat, he thought about a Conservative campaign but ultimately decided against it.

"Although I'd like to think I could do what Jim Buckley did 40 years ago running on the Conservative Party line, and while my heart beckons me forward, my head tells me that my continued presence on the Conservative line would simply lead to the election of (leading Democratic candidate) Andrew Cuomo and the continuation of an entrenched political machine," Lazio said. "I do not want to be responsible for that."

Lazio said both major party candidates are "flawed, but this is the choice that we have."

The report said even before the news conference in the hotel basement ended, there were reports the Conservative Party would replace Lazio's name with Paladino's.

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