New York Times Endorses Clinton

Sunday, October 22nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” The New York Times has endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for the U.S. Senate, saying her grasp of economic and international issues and knowledge of education and health care make her the most desirable candidate.

The Times said New Yorkers deserved to be skeptical of Clinton when she moved to the state 16 months ago having never lived, worked or voted in the state and having never been elected to a public office. But the paper said she has since proven her effectiveness, spurred by battles with her Republican opponents.

``Mrs. Clinton has shown herself to be an intelligent and dignified candidate who has acquired a surprising depth of knowledge about the social-services needs of New York City and the economic pain of the upstate region,'' the newspaper said in an editorial Sunday.

The first lady began the race against New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who dropped out after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Rep. Rick Lazio followed Giuliani in the attempt to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

``With full respect for their abilities,'' the Times said, ``we endorse Mrs. Clinton as the one candidate who will best fill the vast gap that will be left in the Senate and within the Democratic Party by the retirement of (Moynihan).''

Clinton began her campaign with clumsy statements about rooting for the New York Yankees and childhood vacation visits to New York, the newspaper said. But she outdid her opponents in visiting the state's 62 counties and using firsthand stories to learn about economic woes, energy costs, taxes, health crises and failing schools, the paper said.

``She came out of those grueling months knowing more about the state than most candidates who qualify by birth as (New Yorkers),'' the Times said.