The internet has been buzzing all day about Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino’s big three-minute upstate New York TV-buy, which the New York Daily News first reported last night. But though the content was kept under wraps until the 5:13 EST spot today, the results were pretty anti-climactic for a candidate who’s brought nothing but drama since he won the primary…
Paladino said he “got angry” with New York Post editor Fred Dicker before threatening to “take him out,” because a photographer had been following around his 10-year-old daughter whom Paladino had with a woman who is not his wife. Paladino contends the photographer is from the Post.
He called it “outrageous” that journalists were following his daughter around, leaving her “vulnerable to kidnapping or sexual predators.”
“For weeks the media has badgered me about affairs,” Paladino said, “because unlike career politicians I was honest enough to acknowledge she was my daughter when I announced my candidacy.”
“Does the media ask Andrew these questions?” Paladino asked. “Andrew’s prowess is legendary” but this campaign “needs to be about bigger issues.”
Paladino has been alluding to a Cuomo affair for a while now, claiming he has evidence to back it up that he will reveal to the media “at the appropriate time.” He’s also backtracked on his claims, and then backtracked on his backtrack.
He also called on Cuomo to “come out and debate like a man,” discussed a small part of his platform, and then turned things over to his campaign Chair, Nancy Naples, who asked for “emergency” contributions.
Watch:
Andrew Cuomo’s campaign gave this response, via the Daily News:
Carl Paladino and his handlers can’t con New Yorkers. They have seen the real Carl and they know he is unfit to be Governor with his unstable outbursts, smears, and total lack of substance. New Yorkers don’t need his dysfunctional personality in Albany – Albany is dysfunctional enough As we all know by now, Carl has a casual relationship with the truth. We have accepted a debate hosted by Newsday featuring all candidates, as requested by Carl, and it is Carl who has thus far declined. Just when you thought he couldn’t get any lower, Carl once again debased himself and the entire political process.
