SPIN CYCLE: Cuomo times 2 at LI fundraiser

Another Long Island fundraiser for Andrew Cuomo was held Tuesday at the Garden City Hotel. We hear former state Sen. Michael Balboni, one of the Republicans who signed on in May to help Cuomo with outreach to his party, was one of the hosts and gave a speech. Another person involved in the fundraiser was Matthew Cuomo, chairman of the North Hempstead Housing Authority. "Andrew is my cousin, and I support him," Cuomo told Newsday.

ON THE FIRING LINE.

Gun control so far has been eclipsed by abortion and gay marriage among social issues in the gubernatorial campaign.

Republican Carl Paladino opposes a microstamping bill that has passed the Assembly but failed in the state Senate. Microstamping involves engraving identification information onto a bullet cartridge as a semiautomatic handgun is fired. When spent casings are found, police can trace the gun's owner.

"Not only will I defend against further assaults by . . . against existing gun-owner rights, but I will look for opportunities to roll back any existing state law that infringes upon the right to bear arms," Paladino said.

Democrat Andrew Cuomo has vowed to combat gun violence by lobbying for the microstamping bill.

"Gun violence remains one of our most serious problems," he said. "We must enact common-sense gun safety laws, such as requiring the microstamping of guns."