Photograph by Azi Paybarah

This image from newly Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Levy's press conference yesterday might say it all. Observer political beat reporter Azi Paybarah snapped the shot, writing, "pictured above is Levy and the clown who wanted a photograph with him." Next, we hope to see Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a ringmaster hat!

Levy also visited Albany and proclaimed that his candidacy is a "game-changer" and, "We face a critical juncture in the history of the great state of New York ere in Albany, an alarming lack of leadership and resolve have brought us to the brink of fiscal insolvency. The people of this state are crying out for someone with a proven record as an executive manager who can balance budgets, make the tough decisions to protect taxpayers and save New York from financial ruin. I am the leader that can solve these problems."

Of course, other Republican candidates for governor disagree, notably the George Pataki-endorsed Rick Lazio, who gave reporters a list of ten instances showing Levy's Democratic stripes, including his endorsements of Obama's health care reform, endorsements of John Kerry, Al Gore, and Eliot Spitzer, and "He has said that he will not support Republicans running for office this year." Which is why NY State Republican Party chairman Ed Cox is now saying they should follow Ronald Reagan's "11th commandment for our party - that is: 'Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican.'"

The Post says there's now some excitement in the "Grand Dull Party": "It was the Democrats and not the Republicans who were supposed to have a bitter and bloody primary battle for governor in November, but 2010 is, of course, anything but a predictable election year. Just two months ago, Gov. Paterson was gearing up for what many predicted would be a searing, racially divisive contest with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, the bloodbath will be on the Republican side, in a three-way battle to boot." The third Republican hopeful is Carl Paladino, but the Post suggests that Paladino could be Lieutenant Governor on Levy's ticket.