NEW YORK STATE -- It all started with what Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith calls a misinterpreted joke he made to lobbyists at a fundraiser last week.

"It was a stupid joke and I admit to that," said Smith.

According to published reports Monday, Smith warned lobbyists to donate to Senate Democrats now because it will get expensive once they take the majority, also saying he'll send deputy minority leader Jeff Klein, after them as his enforcer. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says it's a crime to pressure people to donate and had a few choice words for Smith during a radio interview Wednesday.

"I called it thugery. It is thugery. If you're referring to your members as enforcers and they're gonna come down hard on you if you don't contribute. That's thugery," said Skelos.

Smith says Skelos' thugery comment was inappropriate saying he deserves an apology.

"We are both colleagues in the Senate and I would hope that he would think it through and recognize that while I'm man enough to admit my mistakes, he would be man enough to admit his as well," Smith said.

Smith deflected continuous questions about the controversy insisting he stands for reforming campaign finance regulations, not pressuring lobbyist to donate.

The campaign season is picking up steam and with the Senate GOP holding on to the majority by just one seat, the struggle for control has never been so fierce. Smith says it’s all campaign tactics.

"At this point, when you're winning the way Senate Democrats are, there's no other way to distract other than to try and put rumors out there to divide the plan that we have," said Smith.

Lately, with the Senate's passage of the governor's property tax cap bill and other alliances, Senate Republicans seemingly have a stronger relationship with the democratic governor than democrats, something Smith denies.

Skelos says they're simply doing what's right for New Yorkers, which he says will keep them in power.

"I believe the senate republican majority is going to remain next year. People are beginning to understand that we represent suburban interests, we represent decreasing property taxes and we don't represent shaking down people for contributions," said Skelos.

Skelos denies rumors alleging he called for an investigation into Smith's comments. Smith says an investigation is unlikely and unwarranted.