GOP’s Paladino to make statewide TV address as poll shows support fading in NY governor race

Paladino to make TV address in NY governor’s race

ALBANY, N.Y. — Republican Carl Paladino bought three minutes of airtime on TV stations statewide Thursday as polls showed his support plummeting in the race for governor against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

Paladino’s campaign said there would be a major announcement in the statewide address planned to begin after 5 p.m., but wouldn’t divulge the content. There apparently is no plan to drop out, despite Cuomo’s double-digit lead in polls and Cuomo’s apparent success in winning over some of Paladino’s upstate base.

“Our own research shows it much closer, but we still have a heavy lift closing the gap whether it’s eight or 18,” said Paladino spokesman Michael Caputo. “We have a game plan to win.”

A Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Thursday shows Paladino is now 18 points behind Cuomo. In its Sept. 22 poll, Paladino had drawn to within six points of Cuomo after his shocking win in the Republican primary a week before.

Thursday’s poll shows that Paladino and his “mad as hell” campaign may be too volatile for most voters who have watched his harsh insults against Albany’s “political class.”

“Most New Yorkers understand that public polls aren’t working this year,” Caputo said. He referred to Paladino’s landslide win in the Sept. 14 Republican primary despite the last poll before the primary showing that Paladino was about even with Republican designee Rick Lazio.

There was no immediate comment from Cuomo’s campaign.