Lazio Drops Out Of New York Governors Race.

 NEW YORK (AP) -- Conservative Party candidate Rick Lazio on Monday withdrew from the race for governor, a decision that helps the tea party candidate who beat Lazio in the Republican primary. Lazio told The Associated Press that he wants to continue to influence the race and bring a workable job-creation program into a contest he says has devolved into name-calling between Republican Carl Paladino and Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

Polls show Paladino rising against the once seemingly unassailable Cuomo, but the latest survey showed Lazio taking 8 percent of voters, most of whom would likely 

vote for Paladino and cut into Cuomo's lead, said Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff.

Told of Lazio's decision, Paladino told the AP: "We're happy about that. I think Rick Lazio and I ran a primary that was above the garbage and the trash. We addressed issues."

Read the full article: Associated Press