Albany Watch

  What is it going to take for Democrats to take over control of the state Senate next year? About $8 million, Assembly Minority Leader Malcolm Smith figures.

    The Democrats need to pick up two seats to gain control of the Senate for the first time since 1965. And that was only for a year, the only break in GOP control since 1938.

  Smith said the Dems will go hard after probably four seats, including those held by Republicans Joseph Robach and James Alesi in Monroe County, Caesar Trunzo in Suffolk County and Kemp Hannon in Nassau County.

  Some other seats now  held by the GOP – including tom Morahan’s in Rockland County and two in Queens- may also be in play, he said.

    The Democrats are counting on a huge turnout by Democrats because of the likelihood that Hillary Clinton will be at the top of the ticket.

  Republicans scoff at the notion of serious Democratic gains, and talk about not only holding onto all their incuments but going after two recently elected Democrats _ Andrea Stewart-Cousins in Westchester and David Valesky of the Syracuse area.

   Both sides are gearing up for what promises to be a bruising struggle next year.