So Senator Joe Bruno is not seeking re-election - let the chaos begin.

Bruno is the state's highest ranking Republican office-holder and his announcement carries a lot of weight in this year's pivotal Senate elections. �Despite controversy around him, Bruno was his party's campaigner-in-chief, and probably still will be, especially now that he doesn't have to run his own race.

But that's a double-edged sword. His resignation leaves one more seat Republicans will have to fight a little harder for, spend a little more cash on. They lose a little safety by losing Bruno. One more race takes away time and resources that could be devoted to some of the other competitive races. Some of these races, including the local contest between Democrat Rick Dollinger and incumbent Republican Joe Robach, are expected to cross the $1 million mark.

State Democratic Party leaders said Bruno is retiring because he knows Democrats will take control of the Senate during this election. The Dems missed the mark here - because of the turmoil in Albany this year and the close margin in the chamber, it's a toss-up which party will prevail. The Democrats do have some advantages; as Elizabeth Benjamin of the New York Daily News points out. It's a presidential election year and Democratic turnout is expected to be high.� But both parties have high hopes and intend to fight.