Morgan Ortagus-Dobbs

Manhattan GOP chairman James Ortenzio, one of KT McFarland's strongest backers, has apparently asked her to drop out of the race after lackluster fund-raising and the airing of ugly family business that has distracted and damaged her flagging campaign.

McFarland's press secretary, Morgan Ortagus-Dobbs, denied any notion of pressure from Ortenzio.

"I just asked KT," said Ortagus-Dobbs after putting the Observer on hold. "And she said she has received no such phone call."

After dropping out of the US Senate race Wednesday, William "The Revolution Is Coming" Brenner has endorsed KT McFarland, at least according to McFarland's website.

But when we reached Brenner, he told us that the news of the endorsement was "not totally correct. I think that both John Spencer and KT McFarland are both excellent candidates."

"At this point in a primary you can't endorse."

He explained that it was all an honest misunderstanding that could have come from his involvement with the Sullivan County committee, which advises him and has for the most part supported McFarland.

McFarland's campaign was taken aback by Brenner's apparent change of heart.

"He sent us the letter yesterday," said press secretary Morgan Ortagus-Dobbs, who faxed over a copy of a letter Brenner apparently wrote to Marc Humbert which states "I think it will take a strong woman of congressional background such as KT McFarland to defeat Hillary Cliton [sic] therefore I am supporting KT. [sic] McFarland and withdrawing my campaign for U.S. Senate."  read more »

A mess.

- Jason Horowitz

So we checked in with the KT McFarland's campaign, which is busy crossing the state for "KT Kitchen Talks," to see how they are feeling a day after Stephen Minarik implored the candidate to drop out of the race.

On the topic of forcing a primary against John Spencer, press secretary Morgan Ortagus-Dobbs said McFarland "clearly had the momentum at the convention" and that "she did it with the party leaders working against her." She added that McFarland was not "scared or intimidated" by the prospect of a primary contest.

"I'm from Florida and we have huge primary contests there," said Ortagus. " I don't know why it would be any different for New York."

New York's singularity seemed to be made achingly apparent to Bill Weld. We'll see how long McFarland can withstand the party's pressure.

-- Jason Horowitz