Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer?s bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Hillary Clinton this year was endorsed by state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik Wednesday.

The endorsement marks the biggest coup to date for the conservative former mayor. Spencer already has the support of the state Conservative Party?s leadership. The Republican nomination for the Senate seat is also being sought by former Reagan-era Pentagon official Kathleen Troia ?KT? McFarland and Sullivan County tax attorney William Brenner.

Meanwhile, polls have shown Clinton far ahead of challengers in her bid for a second Senate term.