Gov. George Pataki and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, the best-known politicians in New York state, both face re-election campaigns in 2006 for their respective seats.

But lately, media discussion about the political futures for both has centered around a different race - the 2008 presidential campaign.

This week, Pataki responded to a question about a possible run for the presidency by saying, "I'm not ruling it out." He then went on to make a joke about why his operatives have been spotted in Iowa, where the presidential primary begins.

Clinton has continuously deflected this question, but her answers are usually clouded enough to leave room for a possible White House run. And poll after poll shows her as one of the strongest Democratic candidates.

So both Pataki, a Republican, and Clinton, a Democrat, will have to make a decision in the next few months about whether to seek another term in their current jobs. Our prediction: Both are likely to run again, but that will not mean they've given up on a national office.

Running for another statewide seat in 2006 makes political sense because, for both, it would be a lot easier to stay in the spotlight by holding a political office. But don't expect either candidate to admit to such a strategy.

That's why it will be crucial for the opposing campaigns - presumably Eliot Spitzer as the Democratic candidate for governor and whomever the Republicans pick to run against Clinton - to hammer this point.

And voters should consider whether Pataki or Clinton would serve out their entire term if re-elected.

So while the New York Democrats and Republicans are likely excited about the prospect of a presidential candidate coming from their ranks, they should be careful what they wish for.

The ambitions of Pataki and Clinton could easily become liabilities for both parties.