Andrew Cuomo Announces NY Gov Bid

It's been coming for about a year, but today New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally announced formally that he is running for governor.

"New York is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance," said Cuomo. My campaign is this simple: I represent the people of the great state of New York and we want our government back." Cuomo's announcement isn't surprising but it is significant. Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, has long been expected to run -- a path made more clear by Gov. David Paterson's (D) decision not to seek a full term in the fall. Cuomo enters the race as an overwhelming favorite. Former Rep. Rick Lazio and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy are competing for the Republican nod.

Cuomo previously ran for governor in 2002, but dropped out when it became clear that state Comptroller Carl McCall would win the Democratic primary. McCall lost to George Pataki.