GOP Blame

Thanks for nothing. That's the sentiment of a top adviser of Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato toward the G-O-P's national leadership. Kieran Mahoney says the national G-O-P did the New York state Republican Party "no great favors" with its campaign strategy of turning Tuesday's election into a referendum on President Clinton. He says that decision at the end of the campaign cost D'Amato the election. In one of the G-O-P's biggest Election Day setbacks, D'Amato was beaten by Democratic Congressman Charles Schumer. Mahoney is also a key adviser to Governor Pataki. He says if the national Republican Party had a leader like Pataki, "we'd all be popping champagne today." His comments come as open warfare breaks out in Washington among G-O-P lawmakers in the wake of the election results. Republican sources say Louisiana Congressman Bob Livingston has decided to challenge House Speaker Newt Gingrich.