Cuomo calls Paladino's position on abortion 'frightening'

Andrew Cuomo said there is no deal with former state comptroller Alan Hevesi, pushing back on reports in daily newspapers today saying a guilty plea was imminent.

Cuomo, speaking on the City Hall steps where he was endorsed by the abortion-rights group, NARAL, declined to discuss the 3 year-old investigation, calling it "ongoing." He did say the probe has been fruitful, netting more than $100 million for the state and resulting in 6 guilty pleas.

When asked the current state comptroller, fellow Democrat Tom DiNapoli, Cuomo said he'll address whether to endorse him later.

Much of Cuomo's comments today were spent criticizing his Republican rival, Carl Paladino, whom Cuomo said was too "extreme" for New York voters. Cuomo called Paladino's position against abortion - even in cases of rape or incest - "frightening." Cuomo acknowledged that public opinions polls don't rank abortion among the top issues voters are concerned about, but he said that was because voters here were "lulled" into a "false sense of security," thinking abortion in New York would always be legal.

Cuomo, and the head of NARAL, Kelli Conlin, said they'd work to inform New Yorkers of Paladino's position on the issue.