Waldron/Times Union; Simmons/News
The camps of Democrat Andrew Cuomo (left) and Republican Carl Paladino (right) began their two-month war of words on Wednesday.
In a race that could reach new depths of viciousness - even by New York standards - Cuomo's surrogates painted Paladino as a Tea Party pawn who's racially insensitive.
Paladino's camp fired back with a crass assessment of his Democratic critics. "They're just trying to urinate on our coverage," campaign manager Michael Caputo said.
And that was only day one of the campaign.
"Two months is longer than 15 rounds in a boxing ring, and this is going to be some boxing match," said veteran Democratic operative Hank Sheinkopf.
Democrats laid out their twin talking points to batter the maverick Buffalo businessman - noting his "crude, racially inflammatory comments" and his extensive government contracts.
"GOP voters who picked Carl Paladino because they were 'mad as hell' at Albany are in for a rude awakening when they realize that Paladino embodies everything they're mad about," jabbed state Democratic Party boss Jay Jacobs.
Caputo defended Paladino's business dealings, saying he was a low bidder who saved the state money.
Democrats even got a little help in hammering Paladino from former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.), who deemed the GOP nominee unfit to serve as governor.
And two of Paladino's GOP ticket mates, attorney general candidate Dan Donovan and controller candidate Harry Wilson, refused to endorse him.
Cuomo let his surrogates serve up the red meat, choosing instead to release a sunny ad highlighting his record.
Paladino did the dirty work himself.
"I'm going to Albany to take out a government, to take out a culture, to bring that culture down once and for all - and to restore a government of right size," he told CNN.
He also defended his criticism of a planned mosque near Ground Zero - and blasted his foe's stance on the lightning rod issue.
"Mr. Cuomo has chosen to call it freedom of religion. I call it an ideological question," Paladino said.
"It has nothing to do with freedom of religion - this is an affront to the American people."
And his campaign charged that "Andrew's arrogance knows no bounds."
Paladino hinted the hits will keep on coming.
"I'm not politically correct. I never wanted to be, and I never will be," he told CNN.
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