The Sagamore Smackdown has gone national, thanks to the Associated Press. (It’s also morning talk show fodder, I hear, but haven’t seen any video yet).

The altercation between The Post’s Fred Dicker and gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino sparked over Paladino’s allegation that Andrew Cuomo had extra-martial affairs when he was married to Kerry Kennedy – a claim for which he said he’ll offer proof “at the appropriate time.”

“You send another goon to my daughter’s house and I’ll take you out, buddy,” a furious Paladino said to Dicker.

In response to questions about Paladino’s allegations, Cuomo campaign spokesman Josh Vlasto said: “We have not and will not descend into the gutter with Paladino, Caputo and (his advisor Roger) Stone.”

Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo told the AP The Post tried to take a picture of the candidate’s daughter through her bedroom window and she’s been crying about it ever since.

Last night’s near-fight capped a day that saw the governor’s race grow increasingly heated and dirty.

State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long still thinks Paladino is dangerous “to the liberals of this state and to the dysfunction of Albany.”

Paladino is a fan of Italian food, and a frequent diner at a number of Buffalo restaurants and a big tipper.

The Syracuse Post-Standard calls on the candidates for governor to stop “sniping” and start debating.

LG candidate Greg Edwards is on the move.

The Post says a reported plea deal between the AG’s office and ex-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi gives Cuomo “justified bragging rights as an anti-corruption crusader in his own race for governor.”

The Hevesi factor is at play in the state comptroller’ race.

The AG actually does have some role to play in the question of abortion rights and access to abortion services.

Staten Island DA Dan Donovan inflated his conviction rate claims.

Donavan is returning a $5,000 campaign contribution from a real estate developer fined for filing false tax returns.

The head of the NYC Board of Elections accused Mayor Bloomberg and the media of exacerbating voting machine problems on primary day.

Bloomberg was lightly grilled by Dave Letterman.

Nine of the 10 counties with the highest property taxes in the nation are in New York.

Big Dem donors like George Soros aren’t giving to candidates in this crucial midterm election cycle.

After its passage in the House yesterday, the fate of the Zadroga bill in the Senate remains unclear.

Gov. David Paterson’s former campaign manager Richard Fife OpEds in favor of moving up primary day and allowing early voting to boost voter participation.

Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch brought his NY Uprising tour to Nassau County.

A Tea Party leader endorsed GOP nominee Matt Doheny in NY-23.

Ward Stone is retiring.

There’s a threat of 209 layoffs at the DEC.

Nassau County/state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs teed off on GOP County Executive Ed Mangano.

Tom Golisano gave a seminar on how to fight property taxes.

Bob Friedrich is ready to give up his quest to oust a Weprin, any Weprin.

Glenn Beck is coming to Albany’s Palace Theater.

The Westchester County GOP might have trouble getting Jim Russell off its line in NY-18.

…unless Russell persists in this sort of behavior, which is just plain stupid.

“Pork king” and former congressman Jim Walsh is now leading a crusade against earmarks.

Get your sales tax-free clothing while you can.

Park51 developer Sharif El-Gamal (remember him?) was on the “Today” show and said the project won’t be relocated.

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