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Paladino Backs Off Cuomo Affair Allegation

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Baseless allegations of marital infidelity trumped a coveted endorsement from one of New York City's top Republicans for Democrat Andrew Cuomo Friday as he and his feisty GOP opponent tangled in what has quickly become a heated raced for governor of New York.

The ferry terminal was the perfect place for Cuomo and Staten Island borough President James Molinaro to trumpet their new bi-partisan relationship. However, all reporters wanted to know was about the mud slung at Cuomo by opponent Carl Paladino.

"It was demeaning. It was degrading. It was a negative," Cuomo said.

In a number of interviews, including the Politico web site, Paladino implied that Cuomo had been unfaithful to then-wife Kerry Kennedy, which came to a head in an ugly confrontation between Paladino and New York Post reporter Fred Dicker.

When asked by Dicker if he had any evidence on the charge of infidelity, Paladino said, "At the appropriate time you'll get it."

RELATED: Video - Carl Paladino vs. Fred Dicker

Paladino later backed off, but not before Cuomo's three young daughters read about it. Cuomo said he felt personally wounded by the "event," as he called it.

"Look, was it negative; is it destructive, did my kids have to read it? Ah, yes, and was it hurtful to my kids who are in school of course. Of course it was," Cuomo said.

CBS 2's Marcia Kramer asked Paladino about it in a telephone interview.

Kramer: "You had told Politico about how you had some information about him having some kind of an affair while he was married?"

Paladino: "I'm going to say it again, Marcia, I am not getting in to this nonsense any more. I'm not doing this tit-for-tat nonsense anymore."

But Paladino still had more bombs to throw.

"Andrew Cuomo is a phony. Andrew Cuomo comes out and tells the people he has evolved to be the new conservative Democrat, he's moved from being a liberal progressive to being a new conservative Democrat, even though he took the Independence party and Working Families party endorsements," Paladino said.

Paladino said he wants to debate Cuomo every day between now and the election on the issues. And if Cuomo won't then he's going on the road with a chicken and a duck to discuss the issues himself.

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