GOP wants sheriff DeMarco to challenge Rep. Israel

Suffolk's Conservative Sheriff Vincent DeMarco is weighing a bid by Republicans to recruit him to run next November against 10-year Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington). Anthony Manetta, a DeMarco political adviser, said, "People have approached him to see if he is interested in running." High-level political sources say Republicans "see the C and the word Sheriff next to DeMarco's name and see it as gold" - and DeMarco is leaning toward a run. Israel last won re-election with 67 percent of the vote and has $1.7 million banked for 2010. DeMarco became sheriff four years ago, and is known for agreeing to take over highway patrols from county police.

- Rick Brand