Susan Molinari, the Republican Congresswoman from Staten Island, agreed that intra-Congressional romances are tough - even if the couple shares a state and party.

As she bloviates from the right about Social Security or the fake newsman Jeff Gannon, she is invariably described as "a former Republican Congresswoman" or a "CNBC political analyst."

The Republican Congresswoman divorced Mr. Waldholtz in June.

And, Mr. Baker's 86-year-old stepmother, Irene Bailey Baker, the former Republican Congresswoman from Tennessee, is suffering from severe abdominal pain and has also been admitted to the hospital.

The police said they had not identified a suspect or motive in the shooting, which occurred about 4:30 A.M. at the Republican Congresswoman's district office at 1305 73d Street in Bay Ridge.

Olympia J. Snowe, the Republican Congresswoman and wife of the Governor, held up a sign reading, "Beware, New Driver in Town!"

He left that to surrogates like Susan Molinari, the former Republican Congresswoman who was the M.C. of the event.

He took the opportunity to twit Susan Molinari, the Republican Congresswoman and daughter of Borough President Guy V. Molinari, who have seemed to be trying to embarrass him during his visit.

He won the primary over several better-known opponents, then came from behind to upset Millicent Fenwick, the Republican Congresswoman and odds-on favorite, spending $5 million of his own money in the campaign.

In 1932 he married Phyllis Pratt, daughter of John Teele Pratt, a Standard Oil financier, and Ruth Baker Pratt, Republican Congresswoman for New York.