Paladino Says He's Locked Up 2nd Line For Gov

NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP) -- Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino says he's locked up a second ballot line for the November elections by filing nearly 30,000 signatures on a petition.

The Buffalo developer petitioned his way to forcing a Republican primary Sept. 14 against Republican Rick Lazio for the GOP nomination. Paladino sought a second line to attract Democrats and independent votes and to offset Lazio's Conservative Party line.

The petition for the Taxpayers line is subject to a challenge by Lazio's campaign.

The winner in September will be the Republican nominee against Democrat Andrew Cuomo, the better financed and more popular attorney general.

Paladino says the signatures were gathered by more than 2,000 volunteers statewide at county fairs and concerts and neighborhood gatherings.