Gov. David Paterson today declined to pick a favorite from among the five Democrats vying to replace Andrew Cuomo as attorney general, saying it would be inappropriate for him to do so “as the leader of the party.”

“Well I would think as the leader of the party, that I’m asking all Democrats to support the winner of these primaries,” the governor explained. “So, for me to endorse one and then ask, try to bring people together after the primary…”

“We’ll bring all of our attorney general candidates together after the primary and get them to support the winner in the general election…So, I don’t think that it’s prudent when you’re the leader of the party to be picking and choosing.”

Leaving aside the fact that Cuomo has more or less taken over the party, installing his erstwhile running mate-turned-opponent Charlie King as executive director and relying often on both King and Chairman Jay Jacobs as surrogate attack dogs, it’s interesting to see Paterson taking his cues from his old political foe this one.

Cuomo, as I reported in my DN column yesterday, has yet to endorse a successor with just two weeks to go until the Sept. 14 primary.

His onetime favorite, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice, has clearly fallen out of favor, and it seems possible – although improbable, given his concern that Staten Island DA Dan Donovan might win the general – that he could do nothing until someone wins the primary.

UPDATE: My response to the commentor regarding where I’m getting the information regarding Cuomo and the bloom off the rose with Rice is after the jump.

First off, let me refer you to my column from yesterday in the DN, which I can assure you goes very high up the Cuomo foodchain, and also Maggie Haberman’s reporting (last graf) on the subject.

While it’s true that the Cuomo camp was pro-Rice – particularly during the DRC straw poll and state Dem convention in Rye – there has been concern of late about her campaign contributions and general lackluster nature of the operation.

Show me one solid piece of evidence that he’s helping her right now….and I’ll be happy to write about it. I haven’t seen one for weeks.

Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cuomo gets over his concern and backs Rice before the primary based on a calculation that Schneiderman is too liberal to beat Donovan and Rice’s profile and strength in the suburbs makes her a stronger general election contender.

But, I also wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t back her – or anyone at all, preferring to simply let the chips fall where they may on Sept. 14. After all, that’s what Eliot Spitzer did in 2006. (Of course, it was no secret that he would have vastly preferred to see someone other than Cuomo succeed him in the AG’s office).

You may be a Rice supporter and not like the fact that the AG isn’t thrilled with her at the moment, but that’s how it is – for now. Attacking me isn’t going to change that, and I stand by my reporting.

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