GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio turned his attention from Democratic LG contender Bob Duffy to his No. 1 target, AG Andrew Cuomo, slamming the gubernatorial designee for being the top recipient of lobbying campaign contributions in recent years.

Lazio is riffing off a report released by NYPIRG Monday that found Cuomo has received $320,540 from lobbyists through 2009 – more than any other elected official – even as he is now campaigning on a reform plank and talking about ending the undue influence of special interests in Albany.

“Once again Andrew Cuomo is caught saying one thing and doing another,” Lazio said in a press release.

“That Cuomo took more money than any other politician from lobbyists who wish to block fundamental reform would be infuriating, but that’s what New Yorkers have come to expect from him. With each passing day, Cuomo continues to prove that he is part of the problem and not the solution.”

NYPIRG’s Blair Horner joined me on “Capital Tonight” Monday evening to discuss the report. He was unsurprised about the fact that Cuomo was the top recipient of lobbyist cash, noting that money traditionally follows the power in politics.

Horner, who used to work for Cuomo, also said he didn’t think the AG should unilaterally disarm by refusing to accept contributions from lobbyists, saying goo-goos would prefer legislative reforms that subject everyone to the same rules by curbing the amount of money lobbyists can contribute across the board.

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