Buffalo Republican Carl Paladino took a brief breather from the campaign trail while he tried to regroup from the e-mail scandal that rocked his gubernatorial bid back on its heels, but now he’s ramping back up again – with a vengeance.

Over the weekend, Team Paladino got some positive news coverage in the form of a sympathetic Buffalo News profile of the candidate’s wife, Cathy, who defends her husband and makes it clear she has forgiven him for his many transgressions.

This week, Paladino will be in the field shooting footage for his first TV ad (I believe he’ll be the first gubernatorial candidate to hit the airwaves). Paladino campaign spokesman Michael Caputo confirmed the filming will be taking place, but would not reveal much more in the way of details, other than to say that the spot won’t be going up this week.

Paladino has pledged to spend up to $10 million of his own money on his run for governor.

A recent Q poll found Paladino tied among Republicans with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy in the “who’s he” category, which Caputo said he sees as a good thing, considering the maelstrom that surrounded the e-mail mess.

Caputo also revealed the Paladino campaign is hiring petitioners by advertising on-line in “all the major media markets” and is, in fact, interviewing someone today in NYC (he wouldn’t tell me who) to act as a “field marshall” for the signature-gathering effort.

Paladino is hoping to get onto the GOP ballot, which he can do without a Wilson Pakula, and also would like to run on the Conservative line, although that seems far-fetched since the party’s executive committee has already endorsed Rick Lazio.

If all else fails, Paladino is planning to petition his way onto the ballot as an independent candidate, although he will not be naming his self-created line the “Tea Party,” because that would be seen as “an anathema” to activsits, Caputo said.

“The Conservative Party is the natural home of Tea Party voters, but if we can’t get the Conservative Party line, we’ll provide them with another place to vote.”

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