Bloomberg endorses Cuomo for governor

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for governor on Wednesday, saying "Andrew understands the state of New York is at a crossroads and politics as usual just won't do."

Bloomberg, re-elected last year as a Republican and Independence candidate, who said he has not met GOP challenger Carl Paladino, said Democrat Cuomo can best turn the public anger of the moment into constructive change.

Cuomo repeatedly thanked Bloomberg for his support and said the state government's performance needs to catch up to that of the city. As for a new Quinnipiac poll showing the race closer than many expected, Cuomo said: "I'm in politics. I'm in government, so nothing surprises me."

As for the polls, he said, "I take them all with a grain of salt."

Paladino spokesman Michael Caputo said in a statement: "Michael Bloomberg's endorsement of Andrew Cuomo is a dog-bites-man story. Of course two of the biggest backers of the Ground Zero Mosque are joining hands against Carl, a staunch opponent of this insult to the American people."