Mr. Wilder, who spent the weekend in Iowa at another Democratic conference, said he would probably decide this summer whether to run for President.

"Actually, the way the Democratic conference and Shelly does it is right," he said.

"It was very important to be in touch with members to let them know there was still a live, active Democratic conference," he said.

Because the 150-member Assembly has a majority of 95 Democrats, the new Speaker would be chosen by the Democratic conference.

That luxury would be severely limited with a smaller margin, and so would the ability to hold together the fractious Democratic conference.

Even if he wanted to, Mr. Silver is not in a good position to force his Democratic conference to rein in spending.

Though he is chairman of the Senate's Democratic conference, he has also exhibited a distinct tendency to reach out across the aisle.

This is unfair to the members of the Assembly's Democratic conference, who for four years have fought to provide access to vital women's health care services.

But the speaker also has to keep the members of the Democratic conference happy.

Ms. Smith had been the chairwoman of the Democratic conference in the Senate.