Joseph J. DioGuardi, a former congressman from Westchester County, emerged from a field of little-known candidates on Tuesday as the Republican choice to take on New York Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand in the November election.

Asked to comment on her dad's performance, Kara DioGuardi said, "I think it was. . . . Wait. Really, he's such a -- I mean, I'm a big fan of. . . . Hmm?"