7:16 p.m. ZINGER, Davis! She slams the stock transfer tax, says if it’s put in place “businesses will leave this state quicker than Carl Paladino at a gay bar.”

7:15:33 p.m. (I’m going off the clock in the studio here, so maybe it’s not in sync with you folks at home?) Anyway…just got the first Cuomo “Fact Check” press release, entitled: “Cuomo’s record of streamlining government.”

7:15 p.m. Thought: Having Cuomo following McMillian is just too damn easy.

7:14 p.m. allow me to introduce myself. I represent the Rent is Too Damn High Party…this is politics as usual; playing the silly game….Wow. He’s like….rapping, I think. Was that rap?

7:13 p.m. OK, we’re still on the first question folks. THE FIRST QUESTION! Everyone gets another 30 seconds to rebut.

7:12 p.m. A viewer e-mails: “Love the rent guy! What’s with the gloves?” Dude. Good question.

7:11 p.m. Redlich: Goes on rant about the head of the NY Public Library. $689,000 a year. “I know it’s a big public library, but that’s a little much.” Close the Thruway Authority and end the tolls. Let the DOT handle highways.

7:10 p.m. Davis: I’m the only candidate on this stage with a plan to bring in new revenues…legalization of marijuana $1.5 b in new revenue…casino gambling $2.2 b in new revenue…(She doesn’t use the whole 90 seconds).

7:09 p.m. Hawkins: Along the same lines as Barron…Tax cuts for the rich. Wants to cut the rebate for the stock transfer tax. “These cuts are politics, not economics.” Suggests bankers bonus tax. Then wants to go back to 1972 progressive income tax structure…WPA…started here by Gov. Rockefeller (you know who else likes to make that point? Carl Paladino!! When he talks about the Dignity Corps, that is).

7:07 p.m. Barron: First complains that there are no people of color asking questions. Then rejects the “premise of your question…we’re already cut to the bone.” Instead, he proposes taxing the rich. “Andrew Cuomo and Paladino, not only are they going to cut your programs and your vital services” – political bully! “How about taking it out on the rich!”

“Political cowardice!”

Yup. First blood, Barron.

7:05 p.m. Cuomo: People get that the state of NY doesn’t get it…state government is still spending too much money, taxes are out of control. (He seems pretty relaxed, pad on knee, gesticulating, legs crosses). “We’re going to have to cut Medicaid, and we’re going to have to fund savings in education” – no specifics there. “I’ve actually shrunk government.”

He says the AG’s office will be “smaller when I leave then when I started.” Says he can work with the state Legislature “they’re no walk in the park.”

7:03 p.m. Right to it: What would you cut to address the budget deficit, and how would you minimize the impact on everyday people.

Paladino- Spending cuts are a very important issue to the people of NYS. Medicaid if our, probably our No. 1 out of control cost, this mandate cost has brought us to our knees…(Paladino seems a little nervous to me, he’s got his hands crossed carefully) “good firm management,” is the way to address Medicaid problems? What? What happened to his mega-cuts?

Oh, wait, the hands are uncrossed now. “We’re going to dismember the NYS education department.”

McMillan: Needs the question repeated. Economic state of emergency and cut them all; they’re not working. Lower rent for businesses, cut rent for tenants…”it’s a complete failure; what we plan to do is to put NYS in the position where we would have a $3 to $6 billion surplus…” all by lowering rent.

7:02 p.m. Seating and speaking order: Carl Paladino, Rent is Too Damn High’s Jimmy McMillan, Democrat Andrew Cuomo (big cheers), Freedom Party’s Charles Barron, Green Party’s Howie Hawkins, Anti-Prohibition Party’s Kristin Davis, Libertarian Warren Redlich.

7:00 p.m. And here we go…the candidates are already on stage…that’s unusual. But I guess it would take too long to have everyone parade out and be applauded etc. They want to maximize the time each candidate gets to speak. Also, everyone’s sitting. That’s anew one.

Well, it has been a while since I did this – Liz A. usually does the honors – so please bear with me.

I’ll be blogging from the anchor desk, where I’ll be both watching the debate and hosting the post-game show, joined by Democratic consultant Richie Fife (Gov. David Paterson’s former campaign manager), who will be with us from NY1; and 2006 GOP gubernatorial nominee John Faso, who is here in Albany.

I’m battling a terrible cold/sinus infection, so I’ll give a blanket apology now for any typos etc. The debate is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. sharp. See you soon.

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