Clinton, Lazio throw their best pitches in the other New York rivalry

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, and Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y., continue to try to break the statistical dead heat of the nation's most high-profile Senate race.\nThe latest Marist Institute For Public Opinion poll shows Clinton at 47 percent and Lazio at 43 percent, a statistically insignificant difference. Both campaigns have been plagued by an increasing number of problems.\nIn the latest debacle, Clinton recently admitted to using a government list of White House party guests to solicit political contributions for her campaign. The Democratic National Committee holds an annual holiday event at the White House, but the invitation list is considered to be government property.\n"This was my error, absolutely my error," Clinton told the Associated Press.\nThe political blunder gave leeway for Lazio to attack and told the Associated Press her acts were improper and illegal.\nAnother problem for Clinton's camp is not necessarily in her issue-laden platform, which boasts education, health care coverage and children, but in Lazio's efforts to drive home the theme of personal character. And in the race for the New York Senate seat, it's a matter of style over substance, according to New York Magazine.\nThe magazine poll conducted in late September found respondents who like or dislike either candidate do so on the basis of personal character, rather than the issues.\nWhen the respondents were asked why they don't like her, nearly a quarter said it was Clinton's "carpetbagger complex" of not being from New York, while 22 percent said it was because they considered her untrustworthy.\nPolitical science professor Gerald Wright, who teaches American Politics and Election 2000, said he thinks Clinton will win, but added, "She's got a pretty hardcore number against her." \nHe also said Lazio doesn't fare well in the history of the strong New York senators, such as Alfonse D'Amato or Daniel Patrick Moynahan.\nCampaign funds could dramatically alter the race. Lazio's team raised $10.7 million in the last five weeks leading up to the end of September, whereas Clinton's team raised $2.6 million.\nAlthough the Long Island congressman asserted the 2000 New York Senate race is "the most important race of my generation," his campaign has been equally marred by troubles.\nSince he jumped into the race five months ago when New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani dropped out, Lazio has been playing catch-up to Clinton, who had been tinkering with the idea of running since last year.\n"I got into this relatively late, so we're making up for all the lost time," Lazio said Oct. 10, while campaigning in Rochester, according to The Associated Press.\nAs a result, "going negative" has been standard procedure as of late in his campaign protocol. His most recent television ads depict Clinton as a vulnerable newcomer.\nIn June, Lazio campaigned at a dairy farm and skipped the annual gay pride parade in Manhattan, although Clinton and Giuliani marched in it.\nLazio showed no politician is free from public gaffes. While talking to a group of middle school students, he told them he wished they were 21 so they could vote. He meant 18.\nThe most significant mistake caused Clinton's numbers to inch forward after the Sept. 13 Senate debate in Buffalo, where Lazio approached Clinton's lectern requesting that she sign a pledge he had in his pocket to ban soft-money advertising from their campaign.\nAccording to different polls, voters -- especially female voters -- perceived Lazio's behavior to be too aggressive, and the Clinton campaign denounced Lazio's move as "menacing."\nBoth teams said they are stepping up the momentum of their campaign schedules in the final weeks.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this report.