Cuomo is expected to get some high-profile help with an endorsement from Mayor Bloomberg that could come as soon as today, a source said.

The Daily News reported yesterday that Cuomo summoned his brain trust to figure out how to hit back at Paladino's personal attacks.

Cuomo called the powwow after Paladino released a letter questioning the attorney general's manhood - and whether he has the "cojones" to debate.

Paladino yesterday mocked Cuomo, the race's front-runner, for seeming off-balance since the Tea Party darling's shocking GOP primary win last week.

"He's struggling to get his seat belt on," Paladino told WOR-AM radio's John Gambling.

Cuomo yesterday denied being rattled by Paladino's vicious broadsides.

"I don't think there's anything new or novel about the tactic," he told Albany's TALK 1300-AM radio.

He ignored repeated opportunities to fight back or denounce Paladino's negative campaign tone, but maintained his strategy of remaining above the fray.

"I'm not going to run a campaign that engages in gutter politics," Cuomo said. "I am not now going to be part of an effort that degrades state government and degrades New York politics and degrades democracy."

Team Paladino taunted that strategy. "Ask Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio how that worked," quipped campaign manager Michael Caputo.