ALBANY - The tribe that blames state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for blocking its casino bid and costing them $100 million says the Republican should apologize or quit for saying some tribal leaders make decisions "around the campfire."

On Friday, Bruno apologized and said "perhaps my attempts at humor were misinterpreted and unfortunate."

According to the Albany Times Union in Friday's editions, Bruno said in a Wednesday press conference that leadership of the Cayugas split, making a deal at this time unwise. Republican Gov. George Pataki had sought the agreement. The Cayuga "chief and some of the others who sit around the campfire or whatever they do, split. OK? So they are not unified. If they're not unified, we're not going to move for them. And I don't say that disparagingly. That's what we do in government now. We don't sit around the fire, we sit around a table with the lights and the daylight doing on-time budgets."

Joseph Health, a lawyer for the Onondaga Nation and traditional Cayugas, said Bruno should apologize or resign.

Bruno's son, Kenneth Bruno, is a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Oneida tribe, which is competing with the Cayugas for a casino in New York, state records show.

Sen. Bruno said Friday that "just as unfortunate" as his remark were comments by the tribal leaders and their lawyers "who seek to distort my position on casinos and to attack me and my family.

"If any of my words were offensive, I apologize," Bruno said. "I noted at the time that time that my comments were not meant to be disparaging, and the tribal leaders that I have worked closely with for many years in honestly trying to negotiate the gaming compact and land claim issues know my position and my respect for their position, culture and traditions."