Laurance Rockefeller in Senate Bid

ALBANY, N.Y. —  Laurance Rockefeller, nephew of the late Nelson Rockefeller, will try to challenge U.S. Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato in a Republican primary, a top adviser said Tuesday.

Rockefeller, a liberal Republican with a big bankroll, will make his announcement at a news conference today in New York City, GOP political consultant John Deardourff said.

Despite the family wealth, Rockefeller will run “a very unorthodox campaign,” with “virtually no paid advertising,” Deardourff said.

While D’Amato, 55, had expected a strong challenge from the Democrats this year, he did not count on a Republican primary. To force a Sept. 15 GOP Senate primary, Rockefeller must collect the signatures of 10,000 registered Republicans before July 27.

Rockefeller, 47, is a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, a former VISTA volunteer and an advocate of abortion rights. D’Amato, a conservative Republican, opposes abortion.