Cuomo: 'My only plan' is re-election to attorney general

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said despite recent polls showing him far ahead of Governor David Paterson in a gubernatorial primary, he wants to stay on as the state's chief legal officer.

"I hope the people think that I've been delivering for them as attorney general," he said Tuesday night at Schenectady County Community College. "I've been trying my best and my only plan is to run for re-election as attorney general."

Cuomo would beat Paterson 67 percent to 17 percent in a Democratic primary, according to voters who took part in a Siena College Research Institute poll released earlier this week.

Cuomo said he is heartened by the poll numbers and support for his current position -- 68 percent of poll participants said they had a favorable opinion of Cuomo -- and he will look to keep his job when his term is up next year.

"The polls go up the polls go down," he said. "I'm very happy being attorney general."

He did not answer directly a question as to whether he is ruling out a run for governor.

"I believe Governor David Paterson is going to run for re-election as governor," Cuomo said. "I believe he's going to be re-elected as governor."

Cuomo said despite what he called tough negotiations and having to deal with budget numbers, Paterson will be "fine at the end of the day and his leadership will shine through."