The state Independence Party executive committee met this afternoon and unanimously voted to put Democratic AG nominee Eric Schneiderman on Row C in the general election.

“We’re behind Eric Schniedemran 100 percent,” Indy Chairman Frank MacKay told me in a brief phone interview just now. “It’s certainly a pro-Schneiderman move, not an anti-Dan Donovan move. We like Dan Donovan very much…We liked all the candidates out there.”

I’m still awaiting comment from the Schneiderman campaign, but I assume the Manhattan senator will be accepting this nomination.

It makes sense for MacKay to try to stay on Donovan’s good side, since the Staten Island DA took his name out of consideration for the Indys’ nod at the end of July, citing an investigation into a loan paid to a MacKay’s wife former firm by a failed Staten Island NYC Council candidate.

The Manhattan DA also still has an active probe into how just over $1 million contributed by Mayor Bloomberg to the Independence Party was spent by GOP operative John Haggerty, who has been indicted for allegedly stealing the billionaire mayor’s money.

The Indys’ backing of Schneiderman is just one more example of the party’s continued estrangement from Bloomberg, who was once such a close ally that MacKay was traveling the country working on the mayor’s never-realized minor party bid for the White House.

Donovan’s name will appear on Rows B (Republican) and D (Conservative), while Schneiderman now has Rows A (Democrats), C (Independence) and most likely E (Working Families Party). The WFP, which put placeholders on its line for governor, LG and AG have since endorsed Cuomo and his running mate, Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy, and are expected to tap Schneiderman within the next few days.

The Indys put a placeholder AG candidate on their line back in June, nominating one of its own – attorney Steve Lynch – to buy some time until the outcome of the Sept. 14 primary.

At the time, the party split its other nominations, puting Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo at the top of its ticket, but passing over his fellow Democrat, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, in favor of GOP/Conservative contender Harry Wilson.

Back then, MacKay insisted that Lynch was not a placeholder, saying:

“Steve realizes that he is the underdog, going up against these six big names. He’s not delusional. We’re not delusional. But he could shape the debate.”

“Somewhere in the middle of September, I’ll meet with Steve and the other party leaders and we’ll determine whether he has a shot, not at winning, but in shaping the race.”

“But then he could choose to vacate at that point. But that would be his decision. He’s our candidate, and he’ll be running a campaign.”

Lynch was nominated by the Monroe County Democratic Party for a state Supreme Court judgeship on Monday night, MacKay told me. (Keep in mind that the Monroe County Democratic Party chairman is Assemblyman Joe Morelle, a longtime Cuomo supporter).

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