Carl Paladino

Bat-Wielding Paladino Concedes: 'You Have Not Heard The Last Of Carl Paladino' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 3, 2010, 1:12AM

In his concession speech tonight, failed New York Governor candidate Carl Paladino resorted to his old "take a baseball bat to Albany" metaphor, by whipping out a baseball bat and saying he has a message for Democrat Andrew Cuomo: "As our Governor, you can grab this handle and bring the people with you to Albany. Or you can leave it untouched, and run the risk of having it wielded against you. Because make no mistake, you have not heard the last of Carl Paladino."

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NY-GOV

Andrew Cuomo Wins Race For New York Governor Over Carl Paladino

Jillian Rayfield | November 2, 2010, 9:06PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) has won the race for New York Governor over Carl Paladino (R).

With 0% of precincts reporting, CNN projects that Cuomo is the winner.

Though the Tea Party-backed Paladino had some early momentum that helped him beat Rick Lazio in the September 14 Republican primary, his campaign has since been plagued by controversy and concerns about his temperament.

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Senate '10

Paladino Walks Out On Interview After Questions About Gillibrand Comments (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | October 31, 2010, 8:25PM

Carl Paladino

New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino (R) walked out on a local television interview in Plattsburgh, New York on Friday evening after the anchor asked him whether his comments about Sen. Kirsten Gillbrand (D) were sexist. Paladino had called New York's junior Senator "[Schumer's] little girl" on Thursday, in reference to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D).

When asked if he regretted the comments or thought they were sexist, Paladino said, "No, I don't. I was referring to the fact that Miss Gillbrand seems to vote exactly as Mr. Schumer directs her to. She doesn't show any mind of her own in voting. And that's why I referred to her that way."

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NY-GOV

Three New Yorkers Are Members Of The Rent Is 2 Damn High Party

Rachel Slajda | October 19, 2010, 12:25PM

New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan (I)

You've read about last night's seven-candidate New York gubernatorial debate, in which Jimmy McMillan, leader of the Rent Is 2 Damn High Party, stole the show with his one-liners, remarkable facial hair and black gloves.

Just how many party members does he lead? Three, according to Board of Elections records: himself, in Brooklyn; and one member each in upstate Oneida and Tioga counties.

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NY-GOV

Carl Paladino's Bumbling Takes Backseat To Even Zanier Cast Of NY-GOV Candidates

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2010, 8:59PM

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino

If the competition was "Who Can Get The Best Zinger" in tonight's debate in the race for New York Governor, then Republican nominee Carl Paladino "ummm"'ed and "uhhh"'ed" his way to last place next to the other colorful candidates, who made up for the debate's low-key tone with some choice jokes and one-liners.

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NY-GOV

NYT Poll: Paladino Trails By A Mile In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | October 18, 2010, 3:17PM

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino

While New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino remains in the national spotlight for his controversial comments, polls suggest his chances of actually being elected are slim to none.

A newly released New York Times poll of the contest finds Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo leading the Republican by 35 points, 59%-24%. This is the first poll conducted by The Times on the race, so there are no numbers for direct comparison. The contest's last survey prior to today's was an October 13 SurveyUSA poll that had Paladino trailing 59%-33%.

The TPM Poll Average shows Cuomo on top, 54.8%-36.8%. The margin of error for the latest survey is ±3.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

NY-GOV

Six Days, 180 Degrees: A Timeline Of Carl Paladino's Gay Rights Flip-Flop

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2010, 8:59AM

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino was criticizing Democrat Andrew Cuomo for taking his kids to a gay pride parade, and saying that being gay is not "an equally valid or successful option?" Well that's because it was pretty close to yesterday.

To be precise, six days after the Republican Paladino made his now infamous remarks, he had a near-complete change of heart, even going so far as to ask gay leaders to educate him on gay rights, and criticizing his Democratic opponent for not showing enough support for the gay community.

Here's a timeline of Paladino's whiplash-inducing turnaround, beginning on that fateful day, last Sunday, October 10...

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Andrew Cuomo

Paladino: Cuomo Isn't Showing Enough Support For Gay Rights

Jillian Rayfield | October 15, 2010, 4:45PM

Carl Paladino

Just days after Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino attacked his Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo for attending a gay pride parade, his campaign sent out a campaign e-mail that that calls into question Cuomo's own support for gay rights.

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NY-GOV

Paladino Loses Endorsement Of Rabbi Yehuda Levin After Apologizing For Anti-Gay Remarks

Jillian Rayfield | October 13, 2010, 2:27PM

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino

Orthodox Rabbi Yehuda Levin has withdrawn his support from Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, citing Paladino's apology to the gay community for his remarks earlier this week that he doesn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn't."

Levin said today in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City that he can no longer support Paladino, "until such time as he straightens out."

Levin had been advising Paladino's outreach efforts to the Orthodox Jewish community, and had even contributed to Paladino's controversial speech in Brooklyn last Sunday: "I did not write [the speech]," Mr. Levin told the New York Times. "However, I did have some input into it -- and I stand ready to defend the content of it."

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NY-GOV

Did Paladino Really Say What It Sounds Like He Said? (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 12, 2010, 2:45PM

Carl Paladino

Another day, another foot in Carl Paladino's mouth?

Hotline On Call has obtained video of Paladino from March 26 at a town hall in Tappan, NY. Paladino is asked: "If you were the chief executive of New York, what would your response be if the attorney general of the United States decided to hold terrorist trials in Manhattan?"

Paladino appears to respond: "Fuck him." However, because the candidate isn't on video at the time, it's not totally clear that it's him who says this.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino: I Did Not Say What I Said About 'Homosexuals' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 11, 2010, 9:33AM

Carl Paladino

New York gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino (R) made the cable news rounds Monday, defending his weekend remarks that he doesn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn't."

In several appearances, Paladino insisted "I'm not a homophobic. I have no reservations whatsoever about gays, except for marriage."

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Carl Paladino

Paladino's Big Three-Minute TV Buy A Big Let-Down

Jillian Rayfield | October 7, 2010, 6:01PM

Carl Paladino

The internet has been buzzing all day about Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino's big three-minute upstate New York TV-buy, which the New York Daily News first reported last night. But though the content was kept under wraps until the 5:13 EST spot today, the results were pretty anti-climactic for a candidate who's brought nothing but drama since he won the primary...

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Tea Party

Short Fuse: Which Tea Partier Will Be First To Cross The Line And Knock Someone Out?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 6, 2010, 8:50AM

So: which tea party candidate is going to lose it and actually knock someone out before Election Day? With so many potentially dangerous hotheads (or at least candidates who appear to be interested in coming off that way) running for office on the conservative side of the Republican ballot line, this is a very important question for campaign volunteers, political opponents and anyone else who may find themselves in close proximity to some of these folks.

From New York to Alabama, this year has produced some of the gun-totin'est, threat-makingest, just-plain-wired-to-blowingest crop of potential members of Congress and governors in a long time. And most if not all of the of the ticking time bombs come from the tea party crop. So strap on your black belt, grab your pepper spray, dial 9-1 (be prepared to press the final "1" when necessary) and let's meet the Most Dangerous Men In Tea Partydom.

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NY-GOV

PPP Poll: Cuomo Up 15 On Paladino In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | October 5, 2010, 3:58PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

PPP's first survey of the New York gubernatorial race finds Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo up 53%-38% on Republican nominee Carl Paladino.

The latest poll is right on the heels of a Siena poll that found Cuomo leading the race 56%-32%. That survey also saw 61% of respondents agreeing with the statement, "Carl Paladino is a loose cannon, who doesn't have the temperament to be governor."

The latest survey matches the TPM Poll Average: Cuomo is seen leading 53.2%-38.0%. The margin of error for the latest survey is ±4.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

NY-GOV

Paladino: Cuomo 'Should Be In Jail' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 5, 2010, 12:14PM

Carl Paladino

In an interview with Alan Colmes last night, New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino said that his Democratic opponent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo "should be in jail, because he allowed [Steve] Rattner to walk."

Rattner, former "car czar" for the Obama Administration, was accused of being involved in a New York pension fund scam that was under criminal investigation in April 2009. And Paladino said he would "absolutely" have Cuomo prosecuted if elected governor.

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Carl Paladino

Siena Poll: 61% Say Paladino A 'Loose Cannon' Without Temperament To Be Governor

Jillian Rayfield | October 5, 2010, 11:31AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A new Siena poll of likely voters has found Democrat Andrew Cuomo leading Republican Carl Paladino 56%-32% in the race for New York governor.

In addition, the poll finds that 61% agree with the statement "Carl Paladino is a loose cannon, who doesn't have the temperament to be governor," compared to 34% who disagree.

The previous Siena poll, from Sept. 21, showed Cuomo ahead of Paladino and Rick Lazio (who has since dropped out) 57%-24%-8%.

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Carl Paladino

Anti-Gov't Paladino Receives Millions In Tax Breaks, Has Created Only 25 New Jobs

Jillian Rayfield | October 4, 2010, 12:18PM

Carl Paladino

A probe by the New York Daily News has found that New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino has received $3 million in tax breaks as part of a program to help boost the economy in Buffalo, but has only created a total of 25 jobs. Paladino, a New York tea party favorite, often touts anti-government themes in his campaign.

The government program he benefits from, called Empire Zones, is a statewide effort "to stimulate economic growth through a variety of tax incentives designed to attract new businesses to New York and to enable existing businesses to expand and create more jobs," according to the site.

Paladino, a Buffalo-based real estate developer, notably made his investments for his own existing properties without creating any new projects -- in one case putting $19 million into renovations for his buildings.

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NY-GOV

Paladino Walks Back Walk-Back: I Really Do Have Proof Of A Cuomo Affair (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 1, 2010, 4:03PM

To accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair, or not to accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair -- that is the question that's been plaguing Carl Paladino this week.

And on Megyn Kelly's Fox News show today, Paladino again suggested that he's got proof: "We will at the appropriate time say whatever we have in our box. At the appropriate time."

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NY-GOV

Marist Poll: Cuomo Leading Paladino By 16 In NY-GOV Race

Jillian Rayfield | September 30, 2010, 4:18PM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A Marist survey of likely voters shows Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo leading Republican Carl Paladino 56%-40% in the race for New York governor.

The last Marist poll, released last week, showed Cuomo leading 53%-34%, though that survey also polled for Rick Lazio, who hinted he might run on a third-party ticket but dropped out this week.

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Carl Paladino

NY Post Editor: Paladino 'Misrepresented What Occurred' Before Threatening Me

Jillian Rayfield | September 30, 2010, 11:47AM

New York Post state editor Fred Dicker nearly came to blows with Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino last night, who was angry about the way the press has been talking about his 10-year-old out-of-wedlock daughter. Dicker appeared on Fox News today to defend himself, saying that Paladino "misrepresented what occurred" before he threatened Dicker.

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NY-GOV

Not Even Rudy Giuliani Will Commit To Carl Paladino

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 30, 2010, 9:00AM

Rudy Giuliani and Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino still has to convince New York's most prominent Republican that he's ready for the state's top job. On a conference call with reporters yesterday, I asked Rudy Giuliani if he planned to cast his ballot this fall for Paladino, the increasingly crazy-sounding nominee to replace the increasingly witty Gov. David Paterson (D). Guiliani said, essentially, that he's just not ready to commit to Paladino just yet.

The call came before Paladino's latest strategic moves, which include accusing his Democratic opponent of having an extramarital affair with no evidence and threatening on camera to "take out" a reporter he doesn't like.

Before anyone had seen any of that, Giuliani was not willing to say he'll personally vote for Paladino.

"You know, you can generally assume I'll vote Republican," he told me. "I've voted for Democrats but I mainly vote Republican most of the time. That'd be my inclination and my thinking, but frankly I haven't made a decision about that race yet."

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NY-GOV

Paladino Confronts Journalist: 'I'll Take You Out, Buddy!' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | September 30, 2010, 8:54AM

New York Post State Editor Fred Dicker and Carl Paladino

Seems that Carl Paladino has lived up to his "mad as hell" campaign slogan.

Last night at a campaign event in Lake George, the New York Republican gubernatorial nominee and New York Post state editor Fred Dicker had to be seperated, after they nearly came to blows during a heated exchange over Paladino's out-of-wedlock daughter.

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NY-GOV

Lazio Withdraws From NY-GOV Race, Will Reportedly Get Judgeship Nomination

Jillian Rayfield | September 27, 2010, 12:28PM

NY gov. candidate Rick Lazio (R)

Rick Lazio announced that he is dropping out of the race for New York governor today, ending speculation that he might run on the Conservative Party line.

Lazio, who will reportedly be nominated for a judgeship in the Bronx tonight, said he is dropping out in a press conference today. In his remarks, he called his victorious primary opponent Carl Paladino "flawed," City Hall News reports.

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NY-GOV

Cuomo Ad Slams 'Welfare King' Paladino (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 24, 2010, 12:26PM

Andrew Cuomo campaign ad, "One Job"

Andrew Cuomo has a new pair of ads out in the New York gubernatorial race. And just like the polls, the ads are amazingly different. One plays up Cuomo's accomplishments in helping a woman with breast cancer fight her insurance company -- and the other is hard on the attack against surprise Republican nominee Carl Paladino.

The negative ad goes after Paladino's business record, citing a newspaper column that called him a "welfare king." The charge seems designed to contradict Paladino's street cred as a Tea Party candidate.

"Who is Carl Paladino? A landlord and developer who has given politicians almost a half-million dollars and gets insider deals from Albany," the announcer says. "Carl Paladino got a $1.4 million Empire Zone tax break to create jobs. But his official filings show only one job was created. A $1.4 million tax break for one job? Carl Paladino -- a welfare king who got rich by milking New York taxpayers."

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NY-GOV

Marist Poll: Cuomo Up 19 On Paladino In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | September 24, 2010, 11:56AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

A new Marist poll of the New York gubernatorial race out this morning shows Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo up 53%-34% on Republican nominee Carl Paladino, with Rick Lazio -- the Republican primary loser who is reportedly considering a Conservative Party run -- pulling in 10%.

Including today's survey, five polls have been released on the race this week, and results have been anything but consistent. Two of the polls find Paladino in striking distance of Cuomo: a September 21 SurveyUSA poll had the Republican down 49%-40%, while a September 20 Quinnipiac poll produced only a six-point deficit for Paladino. A Siena poll released yesterday, on the other hand, found Cuomo ahead by 33 points, 57%-24%. Similarly, a September 16 Rasmussen poll had the Democrat up big, 54%-38%. Marist hadn't looked at this race since early May, when the hypothetical Cuomo-Paladino matchup found the Democrat cruising, 67%-22%.

The TPM Poll Average finds Cuomo ahead of Paladino 52.6%-36.6%. The margin of error for today's Marist poll is ±4.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

Carl Paladino

Polls: Cuomo Leads Paladino In NY-GOV Race

Jillian Rayfield | September 23, 2010, 10:19AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

Two new polls of the New York gubernatorial race show Democrat Andrew Cuomo leading Republican nominee Carl Paladino -- though by widely varying margins.

A SurveyUSA poll shows Cuomo leading Paladino 49.0%-40.0% among likely voters, while a Siena poll puts Cuomo much farther ahead, with a 33-point lead over Paladino among registered voters.

This is the first SurveyUSA poll of the race. But Paladino has gained ground since the last Siena poll, taken in mid-August, when he trailed Cuomo by 42 points, 56%-14%. (Rick Lazio polled at 16%).

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NY-GOV

Quinnipiac Poll: GOPer Paladino Only Down 6 In NY-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | September 22, 2010, 11:26AM

Carl Paladino and Andrew Cuomo

Republican nominee Carl Paladino has made huge gains on Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in the New York gubernatorial race, according to a new Quinnipiac poll released this morning.

The latest survey found Paladino behind in the contest by only six points, 49%-43%. This is drastically different than the result produced by Quinnipiac's August 29 poll, which showed a 37-point margin in a hypothetical Cuomo-Paladino matchup, with the Democrat leading 60%-23%. A September 16 Rasmussen poll, conducted after Paladino's September 14 victory in the state's Republican primary, saw Cuomo up comfortably with a 16-point advantage, 54%-38%.

Polling for the race is still in its early stages, but this new survey indicates the contest may not be a cakewalk for Cuomo. Paladino may be a gaffe-prone ultra-conservative whose chances of victory had seemed very unlikely since he won his party's nomination -- but this new poll suggests he's got a shot.

The TPM Poll Average has Cuomo on top 53.9%-35.3%.

Carl Paladino

Paladino To Cuomo: 'Come Out And Debate Like A Man'

Jillian Rayfield | September 20, 2010, 11:47AM

Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino challenged Democrat Andrew Cuomo to a debate today -- in typical Paladino fashion. "Andrew," he said in an open letter, "for the first time in your life be a man. Don't hide behind daddy's coattails even though he pulled strings to advance your career every step of your way. Come out and debate like a man."

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NY-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Cuomo Leads Paladino By 16 In NY-GOV

Jillian Rayfield | September 20, 2010, 10:40AM

Carl Paladino and Andrew Cuomo

A new Rasmussen poll shows New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino trailing Democrat Andrew Cuomo by 16 points -- a significant shift in Paladino's favor since the last Rasmussen poll taken in July.

The TPM Poll Average shows Cuomo leading Paladino 56.3%-31.2% ahead of the general election in November.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino: No Mosque Wherever The 9/11 Human Remain Dust Cloud Landed (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | September 15, 2010, 4:36PM

Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino, the tea party-backed underdog victor in last night's Republican gubernatorial primary in New York, appeared on CNN this afternoon, and spent most of the time explaining his opposition to the proposed Cordoba House Muslim community center near Ground Zero. Host Rick Sanchez grilled Paladino on the legal grounds for his pledge to, if elected, use eminent domain to stop the project. And Paladino ended up defining the area in which he would prohibit projects like Cordoba House. Anywhere where the pulverized remains of 9/11 victims settled, he said, should be off limits to projects like Cordoba House.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino: My Win Shows 'New Yorkers Are Mad As Hell And We're Not Going To Take It Anymore' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | September 15, 2010, 9:45AM

Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino won the Republican gubernatorial primary last night in New York, and his victory speech was filled with the same populist anger that helped him beat one-time frontrunner Rick Lazio. "If we've learned anything tonight," Paladino said, "it's that New Yorkers are as mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"

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Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino Wins GOP Primary For New York Governor

Jillian Rayfield | September 14, 2010, 11:06PM

Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino has won the Republican nomination for New York governor against former Rep. Rick Lazio, the Associated Press projects.

With 42% of precincts reporting, Paladino leads Lazio 67%-33%.

Paladino has been gaining momentum in the polls leading up to the primary, and becomes the latest Tea Party-backed candidate to upset a more establishment Republican pick. He will go on to face Democratic nominee Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in the general election. Cuomo is heavily favored.

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2010 elections

Tonight's Primaries: The Last Big Election Night Before November

Eric Kleefeld | September 14, 2010, 5:58PM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Christine O'Donnell

Tonight marks the last major night of the 2010 primary season. And what a wild and wacky season it's been -- and could still prove to be tonight.

This is the last multi-state primary night this year. After tonight, the only one primary left is Hawaii's this Saturday.

So let's take a look at some of tonight's races. There are Tea Party insurgents against establishment GOP moderates, Dems fighting it out to keep their jobs, and a whole lot of fun throughout.

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Carl Paladino

Siena Poll: Lazio And Paladino In Dead Heat In NY-GOV Primary

Jillian Rayfield | September 13, 2010, 11:00AM

Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio

New York gubernatorial candidates Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino are neck-and-neck going into the Republican primary tomorrow, according to the latest Siena poll.

The poll finds Lazio ahead of Paladino 43%-42%. That's a big swing from the last Siena poll, in mid-August, when Lazio led 43%-30%. The TPM Poll Average finds Lazio ahead 45.2%-40.1%.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino Reports Negative Campaign Cash In NY-GOV

Jillian Rayfield | September 7, 2010, 11:06AM

Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino was recently down to negative $567.50 in campaign funds, according to his latest filing through August 30. Since the filing, Paladino, who has pledged to donate up to $10 million of his own money to his campaign, has given a cash infusion of about $500,000.

Paladino's primary opponent Rick Lazio has reported about $500,000 cash on hand, leaving the two Republicans on roughly equal footing heading into the September 14 primary.

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Carl Paladino

Could Carl Paladino Snatch The NY-GOV Primary From Mosque-Hating Rick Lazio's Hands?

Jillian Rayfield | September 3, 2010, 8:32AM

Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio

Here's how it was supposed to go: Republican Rick Lazio wins the gubernatorial nod at New York's state party convention and rides it all the way to a general election trouncing at the hands of Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

Carl Paladino had other plans. The Tea Party-lovin', racist email-sending, welfare-recipients-to-prisons-proposing millionaire who collected enough signatures to force a primary with Lazio September 14, could just snatch the party nomination out of Lazio's mosque-hating grasp.

A Qunnipiac poll this week shows Paladino trailing by 12 points. But Lazio's lead of 47-35 has shrunk since the last Quinnipiac poll, at the end of July, when Lazio led 39-23. A Siena poll from mid-August also shows Lazio's lead shrinking, from 40-20 in Siena's mid-July poll to 43-30 by August.

The TPM Poll Average finds Lazio leading Paladino 46.3%-34.8%. Check out the trend lines. Lazio still has a double-digit lead, of course, but Paladino has been closing the gap.

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Carl Paladino

Paladino On Obama: 'I Think He Worships Himself' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | August 31, 2010, 11:48AM

Carl Paladino

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino may not share the belief of a growing number of Americans that President Obama is a Muslim, but he has his doubts about Obama's belief in Christianity: "I think he worships himself."

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Cordoba House

Chris Matthews Calls Out Rick Lazio For Exploiting Cordoba House For Campaign (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | August 24, 2010, 6:56PM

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio has been focusing a lot of his campaign's attention on opposing the proposed Cordoba House Islamic center near Ground Zero, and today on Hardball, Chris Matthews took him to task for playing politics with the controversy. Matthews asked Lazio how he responds to those who say the focus "has a lot to do with the fact that you're down 30 points in what looks to be your upcoming general election fight with Andrew Cuomo for governor."

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Carl Paladino

Lazio Skipping Debate With Paladino To Go To Tea Party Forum

Jillian Rayfield | August 24, 2010, 1:54PM

Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has been taunting his primary opponent Rick Lazio over the past week, calling him out for not agreeing to a debate August 30, and even going so far as to threaten to bring a man dressed as a chicken to debate him if Lazio won't accept the challenge.

Well, it seems the chickens are coming home to roost, because Lazio is now scheduled to attend a candidate forum hosted by TeaParty365 in Manhattan -- while Paladino will be upstate for the debate in Syracuse.

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NY-GOV

Paladino: House Welfare Recipients In Prisons! (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 23, 2010, 11:09AM

Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino, the right-wing businessman who's seeking the Republican nomination for governor of New York while also running on his own self-created "Tea Party" ballot line, has a new proposal to deal with welfare in New York: Provide the poor job and lifestyle training -- by putting them in prisons.

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