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Thursday, November 8, 2001 GOP SEEKS RICH, FAMOUS

BUOYED by the unlikely success of tyro politician Michael Bloomberg, the state GOP is casting around for some more rich or famous candidates to carry its somewhat sagging banner.

I'm told that the party is planning to put the name of Fox News Channel's star Bill O'Reilly into an upcoming poll to see how he plays with the rank and file. "He's very high visibility, would be a great national fund-raiser and seems to be one of us," one Republican strategist tells me.

"I'd rather rip politicians than be one of them," O'Reilly replies. "I'm sure my name only cropped up because my book 'No Spin Zone' is going to be No. 1 on this Sunday's Times list." (There's your plug, Bill.)

O'Reilly does begin to warm to the idea of a political career when he thinks of specific races in which he might get involved. "If they wanted me to shoot down Hillary, that might be fun," he says.

"Sen. O'Reilly! The guys back in the old neighborhood wouldn't believe it."

In fact, both parties at national and state levels are looking at high-profile, rather than time-serving, future candidates. Outside of retiring Mayor Rudy and Gov. George Pataki, the GOP is light on talent just now.

And the Democrats, with a full field of presidential candidates who seem to have been around forever, may start considering some of their high- profile supporters for electoral office at a time when politics as usual is out of favor. Are you listening, Warren Beatty?

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Answers

I have long felt that the only person dumber than Shirley was her brother. What a pair.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001