The battle for who will be the Republican candidate for U.S. senator has former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer defending comments he made eight years ago.

At a police event in 1998, Spencer told the crowd that he would need the department to prevent him from killing Governor George Pataki (R-NY) and a federal judge. Spencer says the comment was a joke and was made during Yonkers? battle over racial integration for its housing and schools. Even political analysts say it was obvious the comment was meant metaphorically.

However, Kathleen Troia ?K.T.? McFarland, who is challenging Spencer for the Republican nod, says the quote demonstrates Spencer?s character, which she says is fiery and bombastic. The party will decide which candidate to choose at the convention in less than two weeks.