Taxpayers are frustrated. Businesses are frustrated. Now, it finally seems as if voters across the state are frustrated.
In one of the most surprising results to come from a New York state primary election in recent memory, "mad as hell" Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino trampled the Republican choice for nominee Rick Lazio.
Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo can no longer be sitting pretty in his run for governor.
Across the nation this summer, many political experts ruled Cuomo the winner for governor. These same pundits had also considered the state a given for Democrats since Lazio would be the opposition.
Lazio may have won one ticket as a Conservative, but he is not the choice of the Republicans.
Even more interesting as this month draws to an end, is recent polls find that Cuomo, who once held a 2-to-1 lead, is clinging to a six-point lead in a Quinnipiac poll - 49 percent to 43 percent - over Paladino with 7 percent undecided.
"Attorney General Andrew Cuomo might be a victim of his own excess. Politicians and polls have depicted him so relentlessly as a sure thing that he might be a victim of the 'throw the bums out' attitude that hits incumbents in this angry year," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Other polls continue to show a 2-to-1 advantage or a 16-point lead for the Democratic favorite. But make no mistake - there's an uneasy feeling in the Cuomo camp. The Paladino train keeps picking up steam. Lazio tried to ignore it, which worked greatly to Paladino's advantage.
Will Cuomo do the same?
