In March, there was consternation among some Democrats that the withdrawal of incumbent executive Tom Gulotta might severely hamper their momentum. The daily media drumbeat against county Republicans only blipped, Bruce Bent has been invisible and attention has focused the action on the Sept. 11 Democratic primary between Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli and Mayor Tom Suozzi.

The driven Tom Suozzi has remained composed despite deep hurt that he was denied what he felt was the party's promised backing. Practically raised to run for county executive, he began recruiting staff a year before Tom DiNapoli's entry. But Glen Cove has less than one-fourth the number of Democrats as DiNapoli's assembly district, and he is disadvantaged in some other ways.

In order to run, Suozzi must relinquish his place in government, while DiNapoli's term in Albany runs through next year. This means that Suozzi has more to lose, but it also means that DiNapoli is a safer bet for anyone doing business in Albany. For example, health workers union 1199/SEUI is sitting out the murky New York City mayoral primary, but they endorsed longtime ally Tom DiNapoli early on.

A decade of shrewd groundwork for some future, unseen opportunity is now paying off for Tom DiNapoli. The implosion of the Nassau GOP during his short term as chairman of the Democratic county committee also was a huge factor. He reaped enormous positive media exposure, strong influence throughout the party structure and cachet with the state and national party (a Democratic administration in New York's wealthiest county would be a big financial and strategic asset).

In many ways, the two campaigns have been evenly matched up to this point. But a battalion of experienced campaign workers from Albany and other places is expected to arrive on behalf of Tom DiNapoli and that could make the difference on Sept. 11.

Tom Suozzi has not rolled over. His enthusiasm, energy level and in-your-face style were once tuned too high for some tastes, but have been honed into campaign assets. Suozzi has amassed a legitimately impressive record as a small city mayor, and has kept the race close enough so that there have been some switches and hedging of bets. Five Democratic county legislators first elected during DiNapoli's chairmanship are backing Suozzi, signaling the deep rifts within that conference.

Realizing early on that it takes two houses to pass bills and that friends might not trip up legislation for sport, DiNapoli has long cultivated connections and personal friendships with Republican lawmakers. Word has come from the GOP top that DiNapoli is Úquot;safeÚquot; and a reliable partner in government business, an acceptable alternative to Bruce Bent. This is why Republican Senator Michael Balboni could appear at press conferences with Democratic candidate DiNapoli this summer, a treasonable act to GOP leaders in other years.

Whatever the outcome on Primary Day, the winner of the Democratic Primary will receive vast free publicity and a huge boost. Time is running out for Republicans to control their destiny. But local Democrats have blown big races before, and we owe it to ourselves and to Nassau residents not to grow complacent or take the challenge of governing for granted.

(Michael Miller has been a paid consultant to both Tom DiNapoli and Tom Suozzi and is a former DiNapoli staff member.)