By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Gov. David Paterson's Republican challenger can't stand the suspense any longer and has demanded the New York Times finally print the story about his nemesis that has the city's media buzzing.
Lazio sent a letter to Times Executive Editor Bill Keller Monday, demanding the newspaper end days of speculation and print the story.
"Your paper has generated a media firestorm that is directly hurting the Governor of the State of New York, David Paterson,” Lazio’s letter read. “This is not because of a story you have published, but because of the hype surrounding an unconfirmed story that has grown larger than the Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
Lazio went on to say that if the Times does have a story, they should confirm or print it, telling Keller, “If you do not, then you have a moral obligation to stop the drama and the psychological warfare on Gov. Paterson.”
Rumors swirled over the weekend as to what bombshell the story would contain. Extramarital affairs? Drug use? Whatever it is, Business Insider reported that it was so bad the governor would be forced to resign.
The New York Post has reported that Paterson was spotted last month "canoodling" with a woman who was not his wife in a New Jersey restaurant. The paper's Page Six magazine reported that he was caught by a state trooper "snuggling" with another woman in a utility closet in the governor's mansion.
Paterson has denied those stories, and said the rumors hanging over him are "callous and sleazy," the Post reported, that stretched "the bounds of journalism."
The piece, however, "is PG-13, not XXX" an unidentified source told New York magazine. The Times is indeed working on a story and has three reporters on it, the magazine said, including Albany bureau chief Danny Hakim, Nicholas Confessore and Serge Kovaleski, but they haven't yet filed a draft.
When reached for comment on the piece by New York magazine, Hakim said, "I'm hanging up the phone. Goodbye."
Lazio’s letter was sent to reporters — one of hundreds of media advisories Lazio 2010 has released since September.
A Feb. 3 Marist Poll has Lazio beating Paterson 46 percent to 43 percent, if Paterson secured the Democratic nomination. In a match-up against Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who has not announced a bid but is expected to run, Lazio has 27 percent of the vote to Cuomo’s 64 percent.
