By Jordan Heller
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Rick Lazio withdrew his third-party bid for New York governor Monday, giving tea partier-cum-GOP nominee Carl Paladino a boost in his race against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.
Lazio was the party favorite for the Republican nomination, but lost the Sept. 14 primary in a stunning upset to Paladino. Lazio had until Tuesday to decide if he would continue his bid on the Conservative Party ticket. Had he done so, Lazio would have taken away votes from Paladino.
Upon hearing of the former Long Island congressman's decision to drop out of the race, Paladino told the Associated Press: "We're happy about that. I think Rick Lazio and I ran a primary that was above the garbage and the trash. We addressed the issues."
Though Lazio's decision helps Paladino, who some polls show is closing the gap against a Democratic nominee once considered unassailable, he didn't exactly endorse the tea party upstart.
"I believe strongly that Andrew Cuomo cannot bring change, but I remain unconvinced that Carl Paladino will bring the improvement that New York needs," Lazio told the AP.
"I think Carl Paladino has to listen to the people," he added. "He needs to be realistic and credible and specific about how he's going to solve these grave problems."
