According to WNBC, Hevesi, a democrat, was speaking at the Queens College commencement at the time of the remarks, along with U.S. Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer.

A member of the audience, blogging at Free Republic, reports that Hevesi, referring to Schumer, said the Senator would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it."

There were a fair number of gasps…It slightly seemed that he caught himself and then said, "Well, he's a really tough guy" or something along those lines -- trying to put the remark in context.

Shortly after Thursday's event, Hevesi issued an apology, claiming that “he was merely trying to convey that Sen. Charles Schumer has strength and courage to stand up to the president.”

Schumer did not immediately condemn Hevesi's remarks.

Hevesi’s comments came only a day after he was nominated to run for a second term at the state democratic convention Wednesday in Buffalo. In accepting the nomination he said “We’re going to murder the Republicans.”

His republican opponent, J. Christopher Callaghan, has blasted Hevesi’s remarks.

"Threats against the president are no joke and this incident raises real concerns about Alan Hevesi's fitness to hold public office, Callaghan said during his acceptance speech at the Republican state convention on Long Island.

As Comptroller, Hevesi is the state’s chief fiscal officer, charged with auditing government operations, managing the State's assets and overseeing the fiscal affairs of local governments, including New York City.

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