AP

Now that Gov. Paterson is out of the race, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will have to drop his “coy” act and start answering questions, experts say. Yesterday Cuomo announced he’d wait for the “appropriate time” (March, reports the Daily News) to confirm his run for the governorship, but according to an anonymous adviser, “You sort of see some running room now. There’ll be a not-so-subtle change in the discussion, from this whole ‘Stay cool’ approach to ‘O.K., guys and gals, let’s get ready for a campaign and hopefully we’ll have a candidate in the next month or so.’” But once he stops playing hard to get, will voters still want him?

Most sources, including the Times, report that Cuomo is candy to the electorate. According to Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs "His positions and his views are ones that every Democrat will endorse. You add that to $15 million in the bank and his 60% [actually 66% according to a recent poll] job approval rating and I would say you have the recipe for a strong candidate." Now some sources are actually saying that the attorney general is too popular, and that high hopes are a “a potential danger.” “I’m not sure that God could live up to people’s expectations today,” said Kenneth Sherrill, a political science professor at Hunter College.

Presumed Republican opponent for the governorship, Rick Lazio is itching to start issues debates with Cuomo, especially on Medicaid, the deficit and taxes. “It’s very clever to not show your cards, not take positions on issues so you don’t alienate anybody. But the public is at a point where they want a candidate who will treat them with respect, by explaining where you are on the issues,” he jabbed. Still, Cuomo is concentrating on being attorney general. Right now that means investigating why the girlfriend of Gov. Paterson’s top aide bought a $40,000 Lexus SUV right before dropping domestic abuse charges against her significant other.