Duane Staying With Democrats 'As of Now,' an Aide Says

ALBANY—Democratic State Senator Tom Duane has not "jumped ship," his counsel insisted.

Mark Furnish told me just now in a Capitol hallway that while Duane remains in his hotel and has been there, hunkered down, since a coup in his chamber Monday, he remains a loyal member of the Democratic conference.

Earlier, I had heard that he was considering an offer made by Republicans to support their bid in control of the chamber if they brought a same-sex marriage bill to a vote. His spokesman said nothing at the time; Furnish now denies this.

"He hasn't spoken to any Republicans. He has spoken to his Democratic colleagues today," Furnish said, insisting Duane also hasn't spoken to two renegade state senators--Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate--or to billionaire Tom Golisano. Furnish said that Duane "bumped into" Golisano's aide Steve Pigeon at a hotel this morning, but that they just "made small-talk."

I asked if he has any plans to join Espada Jr. as he tries to create a caucus of "reform Democrats."

"As of right now, no," Furnish said.