Democrat Andrew Cuomo's years of experience in government, including the past four as New York attorney general, have prepared him to put the state back on the path of progress and prosperity.

He is the Democrat and Chronicle's choice for governor in the general election. Based, too, on Robert Duffy's record of government service, which includes the past five years as mayor of Rochester, Cuomo's running mate gets our endorsement for lieutenant governor.

The Cuomo-Duffy team's Republican challengers, Carl Paladino for governor and Gregory Edwards for lieutenant governor, frankly disappointed. Not so much Edwards, who is a highly respected county executive in Chautauqua County. Paladino's popularity nosedived as New Yorkers learned more about him.

The fact that Paladino upset former Republican Congressman Rick Lazio in the September GOP primary showed he tapped into New Yorkers' anger about the direction of the state. But rather than offering well-thought-out solutions to the state's mounting problems, since winning the primary Paladino's become a caricature.