The Democratic convention officially gets underway in Rye this morning with a breakfast hosted by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, who are expected to easily placed on the ballot by the party faithful.

Also today: The AG vote, which was supposed to be a floor fight, but is now expected to result in a five-candidate ballot.

AG Andrew Cuomo is believed to be poised to announce his preferred LG running mate.

And the news…

Cuomo’s acceptance of the state Independence Party line raised eyebrows due to an ongoing investigation by Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr.

Indy Party Chairman Frank MacKay said the line will give Republicans a “safe” place to vote for Cuomo.

Cuomo said he has already chosen his preferring running mate, but wouldn’t reveal his/her identity.

…Could it be this guy? His name was on everyone’s tongue at the convention last night.

Mike Gormley on Bill Samuels “dumb move.”

Not everyone is pleased with Cuomo’s selection of ex-Gov. George Pataki’s longtime spokesman, Mike McKeon, to help head up a GOP outreach effort.

Will Cuomo’s gubernatorial run get him off the BofA case?

Curtis Sliwa is not a Cuomo supporter, although he backed Mario Cuomo.

“In basing his candidacy on reform, Andrew Cuomo is, in effect, attempting to renounce both his own political past of some 30 years and that of his father,” says the Kingston Freeman.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has reportedly floated another millionaire’s tax.

Mayor Bloomberg dispatched two top deputies to Albany to trey to push for a “Race to the Top” deal before the June 1 Round II application deadline.

Bloomberg is an iPad fan.

The mayor rejected the idea that paying his secretary both with taxpayer dollars and his own cash is a conflict.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky insists he’s not switching from the AG race to primary state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Liz Holtzman isn’t running for AG.

Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner says he’s running for governor.

Democrats who had hoped to receive the Queens party’s nod to succeed departing Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza will run for district leader slots instead.

A question about term limits (what, exactly, remains unsure) will be on the NYC ballot this fall.

Former Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr. was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

The founding principal of the city’s only Arabic-language public school won’t sue the Department of Education for her firing.

Legislative leaders are hopeful a deal on keeping state parks open will be reached before the Memorial Day weekend.

An early retirement incentive bill is advancing in Albany.

A judge will rule on the NY-29 special election lawsuit within a week.

There’s a battle over bragging rights for Super Bowl XLVIII.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb continues to rail against the closed state budget process.

The 9/11 health bill passed a key House panel.

Plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero have ignited heated debate.

A Canadian pension fund is investing in Hudson Yards.

The Lewis and Franklin county GOPs declined to endorse in NY-23.

President Obama lunched with US Senate Republicans, not altogether comfortably.

Bloomberg’s daughter, Georgina, won a riding competition and proved to her father that horses are indeed a good investment.

Recycled cigarette butts?

Remembering Jay Gallagher.

Congratulations to DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett and his wife, Amy, on the birth of their second daughter, Emmery Rose. Born at 6:55 p.m. last night; 8.75 pounds and 21 inches.

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