Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx Democrat and Pentecostal minister, told me yesterday that he and his group of Hispanic clergy members are “open” to endorsing GOP/Conservative gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino for governor and seemed unconcerned about his controversial statements and personal shortcomings.

“He has made mistakes. OK. I have made mistakes and you have made mistakes. So, we all have made mistakes,” the senator said.

“So, you know. Now how come they are going after him because of a child?…They didn’t go like that against Bill Clinton. They made Bill Clinton a hero. So, you know, we all make mistake. Stop the lies. Let’s talk about issues.”

Paladino, of course, is doing just that today, trying to put the ugliness of last week’s personal attacks behind him by refocusing on policy with a new Web video that talks about eliminating taxes that are onerous on businesses.

Diaz Sr. said he’s upset with his fellow Democrat, gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, because the AG has so far rebuffed invitations to meet with the Hispanic clergy, which Paladino did in August and, according to the senator, will do so again prior to the Nov. 2 election.

“(Cuomo) doesn’t want to because he believes the gay community would get angry and he doesn’t want to get the gay community angry,” Diaz Sr. said.

“Now Paladino came and he’s coming back. Soon. Soon. And we believe that anyone that wants to be governor should be governor for everybody – for everybody – gay, straight, Chrisitan, Muslim, Jews, Hebrews.”

The clergy group has already endorsed one Republican statewide contender: AG hopeful Dan Donovan.

The governor’s race has again divided Diaz Sr. and his son, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (Recall that the son endorsed Gustavo Rivera who successfully ousted the father’s “amigo”, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr., in the Sept. 14 primary).

Diaz Jr. endorsed Cuomo over the weekend along with fellow Latino leaders and called Paladino a “straight and utter nut job.” Diaz Sr. called me this morning to correct my report today (second item) regarding that get-together.

He said he had been invited, although not by Cuomo. Rep. Nydia Velazquez called to ask Diaz Sr. to come, he said, but he refused to attend because he feels Cuomo is snubbing his clergy organization.

“One hundred and fifty Hispanic minsisters are more influential than those elected officials that he met with,” the senator said.

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