Pataki sticks to middle of the road; Perhaps with eye on national stage, governor speaks in moderate tone.(Main)

Byline: ELIZABETH BENJAMIN Capitol bureau

ALBANY - The red meat some thought White House aspirant George Pataki would serve up for conservatives Wednesday in his final State of the State speech as New York governor turned out to be medium rather than raw.

Instead of playing heavily to the right-leaning wing of the Republican Party currently in control in Washington, D.C., Pataki embraced his inner moderate. He spoke of environmental protection and a tax cut for families, not the rich. He focused on education, science and research, reserving any mention of religion to a few God blesses.

"It was solid Republican issues, but not really pitched to the real conservative national party," said Lee …