Reporter defends comments to Paladino

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - That very public outburst is making the rounds on the Internet and could have a big effect in the weeks leading up to the election.

It all happened while Carl Paladino was at the Sagamore in the Adirondacks to address the state business council, but nobody's talking about that. It's all about what he said before that speech and now his campaign may have to do damage control because of it.

The video has gone viral. Just about every news site has been showing Wednesday's exchange between Carl Paladino and NY Post reporter Fred Dicker.

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Watch and read the complete verbal fight here

Read the Paladino campaign's statement here

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Earlier in the day Carl Paladino told the website politico.com that his opponent Andrew Cuomo had affairs while he was married, he has since divorced.

The reporter wanted Paladino to back up his claim.

Dicker asked, "Do you have any evidence to the charge you made?"

Paladino said, "At the appropriate time, you'll get it."

Dicker said, "This guy's the attorney general of New York."

Paladino said, "And you're his stalking horse, Fred Dicker. You're his stalking horse. You're his bird dog."

Fred Dicker was on the airwaves Thursday morning defending his line of questioning.

Fred Dicker said, "If Cuomo had made allegations against him I'd ask Cuomo to answer to the allegations and present proof, this is very, very serious."

Paladino accuses Dicker and the NY Post of going after the 10-year-old daughter he fathered with a woman who was not his wife.

"You send another goon to my daughters house and I'll take you out buddy," said Paladino.

Dicker said, "How you gonna do that?"

"Watch," said Paladino.

Dicker asked, "What, are you threatening me?"

The exchange is all the buzz on talk radio. Governor David Paterson weighed in on a New York City radio station.

"All I'm saying to Mr. Paladino is brother I have been there, but you don't channel your anger at other people or opponents," said Paterson.

"It's turning into a world wrestling type campaign," said News 4 Political Analyst Joel Giambra.

Giambra says when you run for political office, just about everything is fair game.

Giambra said, "Kids should be off limits, however, the response has to be tempered."

Governor David Paterson admits he understands with the frustration that Paladino feels, you may remember his infidelity was brought up when he took office as well.