Buffalo millionaire real estate developer Carl Paladino announced his candidacy for the 2010 NY Governor's race by rallying the crowd with the immortal words of Paddy Chayefsky, "I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!" He said, "The government is in shambles, and we’re paying for it in unbearable taxes far, far above the national average. Are you mad? Are you gonna take it anymore?" and also took a shot at the presumed Democratic frontrunner, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo: "Some of the people I oppose think they are entitled: 'My daddy was governor.'... We're going to unhinge the Albany ruling class." more ›

Looks like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand won't face a primary challenge next year: Rep. Carolyn Maloney released a statement indicating she's dropping a bid to challenge the newly anointed junior Senator. You can read the full statement here; here's an excerpt: "These are unique times with unparalleled challenges and running for the Senate is a full time job. Giving up for a critical period of time, the things I do best-passing legislation, working on the issues, serving New Yorkers would put politics before policy for the next year and a half... I may not be entering the race - but I will never leave the fight." The NY Times reports, "A person close to Ms. Maloney, who represents parts of Manhattan and Queens, said she reached the decision after days of consideration that running would mean leaving her current job at a point when she had significant seniority in Congress. " more ›

Besides his pitiful poll numbers, Democrats are concerned about another 2010 matter of Governor Paterson's—his campaign money. According to the NY Times, they "worry that Mr. Paterson has not shown discipline in managing his campaign spending or his overall strategy"; the governor has just $5.4 million while Attorney General Cuomo has basically double that. The Times lists many expenses, such as the consultants: Entertainment lawyer and friend "Lisa E. Davis...pulls in $5,000 a month. The governor paid $15,000 to Global Strategy, a consulting firm also used by Eliot Spitzer, before severing his ties with the company. He briefly turned to Judy Smith, a Washington consultant, whose firm was paid $30,000; they parted ways after Ms. Smith was linked to the Paterson administration’s smear campaign against Caroline Kennedy following her aborted Senate candidacy, an episode that damaged the governor’s image." Shouldn't Paterson get a refund on that? A recent hire, Tracy Sefl, "whose firm is paid $20,000 a month, said Mr. Paterson’s new team is committed to keeping expenses down." Expenses like "$1,600 for lodging two staff members on two nights at the Beach House Inn on Shelter Island"? more ›