Third-party state candidates could emerge in fall

Think inside the two-party box at your own risk. With all key statewide offices open at once, there is a small but increased chance that when the dust from the primaries settles, next fall's general election will feature at least one big three-way contest.

Democratic and Republican operatives react with skepticism. They view most minor-party leaders as brokers aiming only to leverage major-party favors through cross-endorsements. But even these insiders concede that with enough voter interest, volatility and the right set of circumstances, a so-called third party could go its own way.

State and Suffolk Independence chairman Frank MacKay declared Friday: "Don't rule out a statewide candidate running on the Independence line alone." He declined to discuss specific races.

History offers examples. Republican Alfonse D'Amato and Conservative-only James Buckley won U.S. Senate terms in three-way November scraps - and also how John Lindsay won re-election as New York City mayor. The day Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo won a third term, the Conservative candidate finished very close to the Republican.

Last week, after Republican Scott Brown's Senate victory in Massachusetts, the union-backed NYS Working Families Party sent recruitment mailings. "Spine up the Dems: Join the WFP," urged co-chairs Bob Master and Sam Williams, condemning "Democratic weakness and bowing to corporate interests."

"We're no spoiler party," they cautioned in the letter, and "support Democrats a lot of the time . . ."

Will there be any WFP-only candidates? "It's hard to say at this moment," said spokesman Bryan Collinsworth. "It's something we never rule out . . ."

For now, rivalries build within the major parties. On Friday, Judith Hope of East Hampton, former state Democratic chairman, led a list of women blasting potential Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., as failing to "measure up" on defending abortion rights. Ford's spokesman shot back at incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, calling it "disappointing to see yet another party boss scrambling to protect the unelected senator by maliciously distorting Harold's record."

Not that Ford condemns all party bosses. Also Friday, he lunched amicably with Assemb. Vito Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic chairman.

RUMOR PATROL: Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) says "it's hard to imagine a scenario in which he'd re-enter" a primary against Gillibrand.