"Republicans in New York are in free fall, and Cheney's visit to New York just proves Vito Fossella's campaign is flagging," said Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington, told the New York Times.

Even before Cheney's New York visit, the Staten Island-Brooklyn congressman was fuming over what he claimed are "misleading statements" about him made by Bay Ridge attorney Harrison, one of his two Democratic challengers seeking to be their party's candidate. The comments were made at a Democratic political forum in Manhattan last Tuesday evening.

"Vito Fossella has made a determination that, all of a sudden, he wants the FDA to take orders from the tobacco lobby," said Harrison, talking to an audience of about 40 people. Harrison mentioned a recent Supreme Court ruling, which he said, would "protect tobacco."

"Do you think that maybe the tobacco lobby took a little hint here?" asked Harrison, who suggested that Fossella and the tobacco backers are saying to themselves, "we can get a lot of money from the tobacco lobby. What we're going to do right now is pass laws that will actually protect tobacco."

"These are the same lies, distortions and half-truths that 'Cigarette Steve' has been spreading like a virus," replied Fossella. "Now it appears that [he] is suggesting that Ted Kennedy, the American Cancer Society, and Tobacco-Free Kids are conspiring with the tobacco companies to protect them." Fossella accused Harrison of misleading the audience with an assertion that the bill was written after a Supreme Court decision in March "to protect tobacco." Fossella said the legislation has been "in the works for several years."

The battling candidates were talking about what Fossella called a "bipartisan landmark bill" now before Congress, co-authored by Democrats Senator Ted Kennedy and Congressman Henry Waxman, called the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. It would authorize the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products.

In 1996, the FDA attempted to take over regulation of the tobacco industry, but was rebuffed by a 2000 Supreme Court decision, which stated that legislation was needed by Congress to grant the FDA such authority.

The bill would grant the FDA the ability to ban the sale of all tobacco products to minors, bring an end to all tobacco advertising targeted at children, require full disclosure of the toxic makeup of tobacco products, and prohibit unproven health claims about light tobacco and low-tar tobacco products. "'Cigarette Steve' is siding with the Bush Administration in opposing this bill," said Fossella. "His comments are more toxic than a Camel cigarette. 'Cigarette Steve' can give Joe Camel a run for his money. I am supporting this bill."

"I stand by what I said at the forum," said Harrison on Friday. "Congressman Fossella has taken money from the tobacco lobby. That's a fact. He has not signed onto this legislation, as far as I know." Harrison did not confirm that he himself opposes the bill.

Harrison has targeted Democratic primary challenger City Councilman Domenic Recchia, claiming the councilman has not appeared at a number of Democratic Party Club political forums. There have been no face-to-face debates between the two Democrats.

Harrison, waging his second consecutive campaign opposing Fossella, has received the endorsements of the American Political Heritage Organization, former assemblyman and judge Frank Barbaro, feminist leader and author Gloria Steinem, the National Progressive Democrats for America, and Democratic Organization of the County of Richmond.

In their campaigns, as of April 1, according to Federal Election Commission figures, Harrison has raised $151,650 and Recchia has outdone him with $325,175. This also puts Recchia ahead of Fossella by $76,000. The congressman has $248,496 on hand, a sum certainly to be boosted by yesterday's Manhattan fundraiser with Cheney as cheerleader.