GOP primary opponents Rick Lazio and Steve Levy are both trying to spin state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long’s decision to call his convention ahead of the Republicans’ get-together to their advantage, with each saying it’s proof the other is in fact too weak to win.

Levy’s campaign spokesman Josh Hills argued Long is trying to shore up Lazio had has a “level of concern” about the former Long Island congressman’s ability to secure sufficient support to continue with his campaign.

“If there was a high level of enthusiasm and confidence in the Lazio campaign, such maneuvering would not be necessary,” Hills continued.

“This decision is more a reflection of the large amount of support Steve Levy has gained over the last couple months than confidence in Rick Lazio’s campaign.”

Hills also accused Long of “railroading” the endorsement process by the executive committee at the expense of rank-and-file Conservatives who might not share the chairman’s enthusiasm for Lazio, adding: “Nobody should anticipate the outcome of the votes at either party’s convention; many of the largest-weighted Conservative counties are squarely behind Steve Levy.”

(Those counties would be Suffolk and Nassau, which have been with Levy since the outset of his campaign).

Hills suggested the state GOP’s nomination process will be “fair.”

That’s a claim with which I’m sure Lazio’s supporters would quibble – particularly if the party indeed is moving forward with a vote that appears structured to benefit Levy, who needs just over twice the 25 percent weighted convention vote Lazio requires to get onto the ballot.

Meanwhile, Lazio’s campaign managed Kevin Fullington released a statement earlier today calling Long’s move “another indication that Rick Lazio will be the nominee of both the Republican and Conservative Parties in the battle to defeat Andrew Cuomo in November.”

“A united Republican party is critical if we are to defeat Andrew Cuomo, raise the resources, and build a focused campaign to expose Andrew Cuomo as being part of the problem with Albany rather than the solution,” Fullington continued.

“For Steve Levy and his supporters, this is further proof that his candidacy has little traction and is being perceived as it should be – the desire of one man’s ambition. Principles matter. Party loyalty matters. Our Republican Party matters.”

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