(AP) - Democrats have taken control of New York'sSenate for the first time in 43 years after whittling away theRepublicans' last stronghold in state government over the lastdecade and then fending off a challenge from within their ownparty. Hours after the Democrats shored up a 32-30 majority won in theNovember elections, they chose Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens astheir majority leader on Wednesday. The action gave Democrats control of the Senate, Assembly andgovernor's office for the first time since the 1930s. Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Long IslandRepublican, is expected to be the minority leader.