Guy Molinari, ex-Rep. Vito Fossella’s one-time mentor, predicted an “ugly,” “nasty” primary in NY-13 now that the former congressman has been endorsed by the Staten Island GOP.

“We’ll take on Fossella, and we’ll beat him,” Molinari said. “There’s a lack of morality that’s going to be an issue in this campaign, (and) people are fed up with this kind of crap.”

It’s unclear if Fossella will even accept the nomination.

AG Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed John Faso and his firm Manatt Phelps in connection with the ongoing pay-to-play state pension fund investigation.

If elected, Cuomo will push for direct elections in statewide offices that become vacant, a source close to the AG told the TU.

Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice pledged to sue the federal government over the Defense of Marriage Act if she becomes the next AG.

AG hopeful Sen. Eric Schneiderman secured the support of a Long Island progressive group in Rice’s backyard.

The soda tax is not yet completely dead; the governor has tweaked it to include a sales tax exemption on diet drinks and bottled water.

The Post’s Dave Seifman confirms my report of a grand jury probe of John Haggerty.

Ditto the WSJ’s Michael Howard Saul.

Rick Lazio will introduce the NY political world to his preferred running mate, Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards, today.

Edwards’ selection took local leaders by surprise.

Edwards brings two main assets to the Lazio ticket: Upstate roots and a experience as an executive – something Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has, but Lazio lacks.

A source close to Eliot Spitzer told the Washington Post the ex-governor is interested in a TV or radio gig, but only if it allows him to speak his mind. “The way he views it is that he has a lot to say,” said the source. “And if people are willing to listen to him, he will continue to speak.”

Former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall has some advice for Gov. David Paterson: “Take the Ravitch plan. Make it the Paterson plan.”

A Cuomo source says the AG opposes a key part of the Ravitch plan: Borrowing.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation criticized the Paterson administration for closing state parks and historic sites.

The trust included New York’s parks on its annual register of endangered sites.

Departing Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber said choosing to leave City Hall was “the toughest decision I ever had to make.” He’s the third deputy mayor to depart since Bloomberg won a third term.

Lieber’s decision to join forces with Andrew Farkas has returned the real-estate investor – who also once employed Cuomo – to the spotlight.

The hasty departure of Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum President Bill White might have something to do with a year-long probe by the AG’s office.

Errol Louis chronicles the uprising of the Obama generation in NYC politics.

Jay-Z had breakfast at Gracie Mansion with Mayor Bloomberg and NJ Nets majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

There were no gatecrashers at President Obama’s second state dinner.

New York voters passed 92 percent of school budgets Tuesday, eradicating concerns of a backlash against districts seeking to raise property taxes and make cuts.

EJ McMahon parses the votes.

The budget crisis is causing the wheels of state government to turn even slower.

Paterson has reportedly “lost confidence” in Meyer “Sandy” Frucher to run the city OTB and would accept his resignation – if offered.

Paterson put the kibosh on OT at all state agencies.

The TU launches a legislative Hall of Shame.

Charter school supporters slammed Sen. Bill Perkins for canceling a promised follow-up hearing.

The NYC Charter Revision Commission might combine a term limits question with a nonpartisan election question on the ballot this fall.

NYCLU filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the NYPD’s practice of retaining records of people who were stopped and frisked but never found guilty of anything.

NYC Health Commissioner Thomas Farley has had a change of heart about biking in the city.

Assembly members Jack Quinn and Francine DelMonte plan to be in Albany and not at their respective political conventions, regardless of whether the governor calls a special session.

Paterson won’t even publicly discuss layoffs until after the May 26 court hearing on his furlough plan.

The MTA plans to end its longtime relationship with Godman Sachs.

Bidders for the Aqueduct racino have a lot of questions for the state.

The Utica Observer-Dispatch has a message for legislative leaders and the governor.

US Senate hopeful David Malpass was in Buffalo yesterday.

Lazio and Levy pitched the Sullivan County GOP last night.

GOP support is quickly gathering for Staten Island DA Dan Donovan’s AG candidacy.

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino won’t be sleeping on the tug boat during his Erie Canal tour because, as he said: “I have an aversion to water.”

If elected, Paladino said he would “deny Medicaid and social-welfare benefits to strangers to our state.”

The Upstate New York Tea Party endorsed Doug Hoffman in NY-23.

Hoffman promised to release detailed position papers…soon.

Assemblyman Marc Bulter is seeking his ninth term.

Things got heated in Herkimer last night.

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