New York Assemblyman Greg Ball (R), the controversial conservative who had been waging an aggressive campaign against Rep. John Hall, announced Saturday that he would abandon his bid for Congress and run for state Senate instead.

In a statement posted on his campaign Web site, Ball said he thought he could have the greatest impact in Albany fighting against “a handful of insiders” who are intent on destroying the state.

Ball’s decision also short-circuits a potentially nasty and destructive Republican Congressional primary. Although Ball had the GOP field to himself for months, Westchester County physician Nan Hayworth entered the race in late September, with the apparent blessing of some GOP officials who felt Ball was too controversial a figure to mount an effective campaign against Hall.