Carl Paladino should be giving himself a pat on the back today; the Republican gubernatorial candidate got through a whole week without any major controversies! Since the only thing he had to do was damage control for was almost peeing himself, he probably has plenty more time to focus all his anger on how his hometown paper, the Buffalo News, endorsed his opponent Andrew Cuomo today: "Of the two major-party candidates, only Cuomo has a chance of bending the state toward rational decision-making...Paladino, by contrast, only has his anger and his money going for him." more ›

After Republican gubernatorial candidate and inveterate dirty email forwarder Carl Paladino threatened to beat up its Albany bureau chief, the Post hasn't been very happy with Paladino. And now the right-leaning paper has gone ahead and endorsed Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo for governor, but adds, "Let's be right up front with our principal reservation: It is not all that clear whether anyone now on the scene is fully up to the task." more ›

The NY Times weighed in on the NY State Comptroller race and is endorsing the Republican candidate Harry Wilson, noting how he "helped turn around General Motors last year... It is rare for someone of Mr. Wilson’s talents and expertise to compete for one of the most important and least glamorous jobs in state politics." more ›

The Daily News decided to skip endorsing a candidate for governor ahead of next month's Repubican primary and went straight to endorsing Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate, for the job: "There is no point in taking further stock of the candidates vying for the Republican nomination in next month's primary. Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino have been that awful... New Yorkers deserve a return to the Executive Mansion of a governor with the fiber to hold to fundamental principles. That is not Lazio. A former Long Island congressman, he was handily defeated for Senate by Hillary Clinton in 2000. He wanted a comeback but drew scant enthusiasm from party leaders and is running scared against [Carl] Paladino, an upstate real estate developer whose proposals range from ill-informed to illegal." more ›

The Daily Politics' Celeste Katz reports, "The Rev. Al Sharpton just confirmed to me that he is endorsing state Sen. Eric Schneiderman in the five-way Democratic primary for state attorney general. I'm sure Team Schneiderman sees this as a real get as they continue to promote their campaign's supporters as the most racially and ethnically diverse group out there." There have been concerns about the Democratic party's all-white state ballot, so much so that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo contacted Sharpton. In recent days, Schneiderman has landed endorsements from the NY Times and the good government group the Citizens Union (rival Eric Dinallo received endorsements from the Daily News and Crain's). more ›

"I'm going to be the Conservative and the Republican candidate," said gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio, who yesterday received the endorsement of the state Conservative Party. When asked what he thinks of Long Island executive Steve Levy’s recent announcement that he’ll defect from the Democratic party to vie for the Republican nomination, he said “I am not worried about him,” but there’s reason to think he should be. For Lazio—who’s short on funds and quiet on the issues—the endorsement could give a boost to a campaign without much oomph. Just as easily it could be taken away. more ›

On Sunday the New York County Democratic Committee said it would wait to endorse Rep. Charles Rangel’s reelection campaign. Upon hearing the announcement, the long-running official, who’s currently under investigation for a slew of ethics violations, maintained his usual bravado. "This time I may get less than 90% of the vote," said Rangel, who's already in the middle of his 20th term. Still, all over the state Democrats are ripping up checks he wrote them, fearing criticism for taking contributions from the shamed congressman. more ›

Just one week after a bizarre Q and A in which he revealed he has only been to Staten Island by helicopter and has only been a full-time New York resident for a year, former Tennessee congressman and likely Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. sat down with the Daily News — and refused to talk about the issues. In an interview "granted under the condition that the questions be limited to his rationale for running, and not issues," Ford blasted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand as "weak in many places across the city and the state." more ›

President Barack Obama did in fact mention Democratic candidate for mayor, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, during last night's Democratic fundraiser: "Our great city comptroller, our candidate for mayor, my friend Billy Thompson is in the house." And that was it. Even Thompson himself, when asked if he thought it was an endorsement, said, "No. Do you consider that an endorsement?" (See for yourself—video is below.) more ›

Wow: NJ's largest newspaper has endorsed the independent candidate for governor, Chris Daggett. The Star-Ledger explains, "The newspaper’s decision is less a rejection of Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie than a repudiation of the parties they represent, both of which have forfeited any claim to the trust and confidence of the people of New Jersey. They share responsibility for the state’s current plight." more ›

Yesterday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed that President Obama would "support the Democratic nominee" in the NYC mayoral race—which would be City Comptroller Bill Thompson. But Gibbs never mentioned Thompson by name and actually praised Mayor Bloomberg by name, adding that Obama "obviously has a tremendous amount of respect for what he's done as well." Which is why the media's take on Obama's "endorsement" ranges from "most lukewarm and indirect" (the Times) and "as muted as they come" (Daily News) to "odd little bit of political theater" (Post) and "lukewarm" (Reuters) again. more ›

Both Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will formally endorse City Comptroller William Thompson for mayor today in Union Square. However, City Room wonders, "But will Chuck or Kirsten actually say anything bad about Mike?" more ›

The Daily News and NY Times are reporting that District 37, the city's largest union, will endorse City Comptroller William Thompson for mayor. The News writes that this is a "turnaround from four years ago that gives fresh momentum to Thompson's campaign." more ›

Yesterday, Governor Paterson told reporters, "I haven't announced the person that I think should be mayor," raising some eyebrows. Last month, he told the Daily News editorial board that regarding "Thompson-Bloomberg, I'll probably make some kind of announcement later on. I won't, you know, say anything about that now" (though in March he said, "I am the leader of the Democratic Party in New York State. I would expect that I'll support the winner of [the] Democratic primary"). But at Rep. Charles Rangel's birthday party last night, City Hall News reports that Paterson introduced Thompson, "It says on my program that the first person that we want to introduce is the mayor. Apparently, a psychic must have written tonight’s program, because the first person I’m going to introduce is currently the comptroller of the City of New York, Bill Thompson!... Please greet the mayor, Bill Thompson." Thompson said, "I guess we’re taking that as an endorsement guys." Then again, yesterday, the NY Times had maybe the 10,000th article on how Paterson might be a liability. more ›

After three mayoral candidates—Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, and City Councilman Tony Avella—answered questions in a forum last week, the Working Families Party has endorsed Comptroller Thompson for mayor, though apparently the vote was "contentious." Here's the statement from the WFP: "As our city and nation tackle the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, standing on the sidelines is unacceptable. And the idea that Wall Street knows best no longer convinces anyone. As in last November's election for President, it's time for a new direction..." more ›

Today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continued to bolster her support for 2010, announcing endorsements from Rep. Gregory Meeks as well as the Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton's statement begins, "In less than five months, Senator Gillibrand has demonstrated an ability to bring people together, listen to their challenges, and forge solutions to the problems they face. I was impressed that the day after being selected to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, she came down to the House of Justice in Harlem to hear the real concerns of the voiceless." PolitickerNY reports, "The endorsements by Sharpton and Meeks are useful to Gillibrand, who has been trying to make inroads with a black community wary of her past conservative position on gun control," and an adviser said that Gillibrand worked for their support, "One of the first people she met with was Sharpton, she's talked to him regularly and reached out to him." So far, Reps. Steve Israel and Carolyn McCarthy have said they will not run against Gilibrand; Rep. Caroline Maloney is reportedly considering a primary challenge. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg picked up a big endorsement from across the aisle yesterday from Democratic rising star, Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Booker said, "Mayor Bloomberg is simply the model in America...A lot of us younger, next-generation, thirty-something forty-something mayors have been relying on him for a long time as giving us examples and instruction in how to dramatic change in our cities.” Booker became more visible throughout the 2008 presidential campaign as a fervent supporter of President Obama. Bloomberg rival Bill Thompson tried to take the sting out of an endorsement from such a prominent black politician saying, "I respect Mayor Booker, but hard-working people who actually live in New York know that we need change." State Senator Bill Perkins went further, calling it, "Just racial...that (Bloomberg) would go outside of the city to get some support." Neither Bloomberg nor Mayor Booker mentioned any potential rift between the two due to the Garden State's role in the Maple Syrup Phenomenon. more ›

Will Ferrell—who will be appearing in a one man show on Broadway in January called You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush—turned up for the cold opening of Saturday Night Live's election special last night. Portraying a 'see-no-evil' Dubya who has declared the Oval Office "a bummer-free zone," Ferrell joined Tina Fey as Palin and Darrell Hammond as McCain. But with McCain on the run from Bush's endorsement (last seen "travelin' on foot through the Adirondacks"), Dubya focused on Palin first:

FERRELL AS BUSH – "My God you are folksy." more ›

During an appearance on Meet the Press, former Secretary of State under President Bush (and native New Yorker) Colin Powell announced his endorsement of Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate. He said he had been studying both candidates in the past few weeks and concluded that Obama was a "transformational figure," citing his inclusive campaign and intellectual curiosity. more ›

Former NYC mayor Ed Koch, who supported George W. Bush in 2004 and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, has announced he's endorsing for Barack Obama. He told NY1, "Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks. It includes defending the public with respect to their civil rights, civil liberties and other needs." Politico's Ben Smith asked Koch why Obama, and the 83-year-old said, "Any time someone goes to the library and says, 'I want to ban books,' and the librarian says 'no,' and she threatens to fire them -- that's scary." (Smith adds that the McCain-Palin camp says the VP candidate was just posing a "rhetorical question"). Koch also said he'd be happy to campaign for Obama. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg kept himself in the middle of national political scene by speaking at an Independent Party fund raising breakfast in Minnesota. While he was expected to tout John McCain a little, Bloomberg had spent equal time praising both McCain and Barack Obama to the Independents, noting the candidates' willingness to buck party lines. more ›

At a rally in Michigan, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama picked up an endorsement from Al Gore, the former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate. Gore said, "Looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to the Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter.” more ›

Former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards will endorse Senator Barack Obama at an event in Michigan today. Edwards, who dropped out of the Democratic hunt for the nomination back in January, had been expected to support Obama, especially after statements referring to him as the likely nominee. more ›

Like Russell Simmons and Ronald McDonald before him, Bruce Springsteen has come out to officially endorse Barack Obama for president. more ›

Team Obama can breathe a sigh of relief, they officially got the Russell Simmons endorsement. From a letter sent out this weekend, Simmons declared:

Today I am announcing my personal endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. During the last nine months, I have closely observed the presidential campaigns, analyzed the issues and platforms of the major candidates, and have had substantive discussions with Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. From the sidelines of the primaries and debates, I have been particularly inspired by the fact that Senator Obama has built an unprecedented, national movement comprised of people from all ethnic, racial, political, social and economic backgrounds.

The 20-member New York Times editorial board nearly endorsed Barack Obama for president, but ultimately Times chairman and publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. pushed through a Clinton endorsement, anonymous sources have told The New Republic. The behind-the-scenes article echoes conjecture from New York Magazine that Sulzberger’s BFF gym buddy Steven Rattner, a major Clinton donor and former Times reporter, may have been the deciding factor. more ›