Defeat increases Rice's LI job prospects, experts say

Kathleen Rice may have lost her party's nomination for state attorney general, but the campaign boosted her chances of promotion in Mineola, Albany or Washington, experts said Wednesday.

Rice, in her second term as Nassau district attorney, impressed voters and political operatives alike with a "credible" campaign that raised tons of money to get out a focused message, the experts said. They also blamed Rice's second-place finish to State Sen. Eric Schneiderman on her spending little time upstate and not attacking his legislative record sooner.

Predictions abound about Rice's future with few expecting her to remain district attorney for very long. Her quest to become attorney general followed a bid to be named the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn last year.

"She's been extremely successful as DA here, and it's only natural that she would be looking around for something else to do," said Desmond Ryan, executive director and lobbyist for the Association for a Better Long Island, a developers group.

Rice, in her first interview since the vote, said she was committed to her job and would renew efforts to combat gangs and gun proliferation in Nassau. She said she has no plans to again seek higher office.

"I'm as passionate about my job as I was on January 1, 2006," Rice told Newsday, referring to her first day in office. "I got to work [Wednesday] with more energy than ever to tackle the county's most serious problems."

A similar sentiment was expressed in an e-mail to campaign volunteers Wednesday.

Among the jobs Rice could pursue are running for attorney general again in four years, if Schneiderman loses; running for Senate in two years if incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand is defeated; or taking a law enforcement job in Albany if Andrew Cuomo becomes governor, Ryan and others said.

Asked about criticisms of her attorney general bid, Rice said, "I'm very proud of the campaign we ran. It was positive and issue-oriented, but it wasn't enough."

With nearly all votes tallied, Schneiderman of Manhattan defeated Rice, 34 percent to 32 percent. Former federal prosecutor Sean Coffey had 16 percent; Assemb. Richard Brodsky of Westchester, 10 percent and former state insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo, 8 percent.

Despite her loss, Rice "has increased her profile and credibility around the state," said Jay Jacobs, head of the state and Nassau Democratic committees. "Things change all the time, and there are always surprises around the next corner."

Some supporters and experts worried Wednesday that a primary-night gaffe could undercut a future Rice campaign. She chose not to give a speech Tuesday night to campaign volunteers gathered at a Carle Place catering hall. The hall was empty by 1 a.m. Wednesday when the race's outcome became clear. Rice then called Schneiderman and issued a statement to reporters.

"Win, lose or draw you thank your supporters - it's an act of style and grace," said Ryan.

Rice spokesman Eric Phillips responded that "the party had long ended" by the time the final results came in. He said, "I think her supporters understand that it was a very tense experience into the early-morning hours, and it wouldn't have been appropriate to say anything without knowing definitively what the outcome was."