Albany, New York -- Arriving here last night following a weekend of "Rudy-mania" at the California Republican State Convention, I found the attitude toward Rudy Giuliani's '08 Presidential candidacy quite different at the annual conference of the Conservative Party of New York.

As it was here in 2000 when he briefly considered a bid for the U.S. Senate for the seat eventually won by Hillary Clinton, Giuliani's name provokes instant and strong response among Members of the 45-year-old Conservative Party, which holds the fourth line (Row D) on the Empire State ballot and whose cross-endorsement has been key to Republicans winning office here.

"I couldn't find one Republican leader whose endorsement [for the Senate] Rudy asked for, but they kept endorsing him anyway," recalled Conservative Party State Chairman Mike Long, who was cool to his party giving the ballot line for Senate to the then-New York mayor seven years ago, "My view was that, when the chips were down and if there was no other candidate, the Conservative Party would do it. But all we wanted first was for Rudy to say he was against partial birth abortion. He never did." (The clash over whether Conservatives giving their blessing to Giuliani's Senate bid never took place; in early 2000, he abruptly ended his Senate campaign and cited his treatment for prostate cancer).

"I'm for Mitt Romney," former Rep. Rick Lazio (R.-N.Y.), who was the 2000 Republican Conservative candidate against Clinton, told me without hesitation. He added that the former Massachusetts governor "has the executive experience, is a competent manager, pro-growth, for lower taxes, and a 'Mr. Fixit' -- he saved the winter Olympics and then got his state out of a $3 billion deficit."

But others in the small-but-influential party are more open to backing the former mayor for president. Paul Atanasio, former U.S. House candidate and businessman in New York City, said that while he disagrees on the social issues, "I get the impression from recent interviews he is moving away from some of the stands he has taken on issues like abortion." The former U.S. Marine said he would consider backing Giuliani for President "because he's shown he's a strong leader."

Over breakfast this morning, Atanasio recalled the session yesterday of the Conservative conclave, where participants were asked to raise hands over who was their favorite Republican for '08 and "no one got more than five hands raised each."

Echoed Mike Long: "There is some interest in Mitt Romney, and some in the ranks are for Senator McCain. [Kansas Sen.] Sam Brownback was the speaker at our dinner and got the best response to his speech. It's really wide open for us."