Tea Party supporters across the country were thrilled by Rand Paul’s crushing victory in the Kentucky Senate Republican primary in late May. And none more so than Carl Paladino, the Buffalo businessman running an outsider campaign for governor this year.

Paladino got off to a stuttering start, though, having to answer for a number of racist e-mails he had forwarded, and often letting his off-the-cuff speaking style get the better of him.

But Paladino says he feels confident New York voters will respond to his “throw the bums out” message, especially in a year when many are angry about the direction of their government. He knows he has a rocky path to the nomination, but insists he will run regardless of what happens at the convention. Meanwhile, he plans to create and run on a third, Tea Party-affiliated line.

After a rousing speech at the Staten Island Tea Party forum, Paladino sat down to talk about the strength of the anti-government movement in New York, his feelings about Andrew Cuomo, and what will happen if he is elected governor in November.

What follows is an edited tran scri pt.

The Capitol: What kind of organization are you seeing among Tea Party supporters in New York?
Carl Paladino: I’m hearing people say that they don’t want a formal organization. They don’t want to belong. These are people who are Republicans, who are independents, they’re conservatives, they’re moderate Democrats. They don’t want anyone speaking for them. And obviously you look at these groups, they eventually tend to evolve into a real membership party and formalize themselves, and it turns into a nightmare because you have screwballs and extremists out on the fringes all of a sudden speaking for them. And that’s how the press gets in it and destroys these organizations.

TC: Does that make it difficult for someone like you, who’s often referred to as “the Tea Party candidate”?
CP: No, I’m happy to just be a member of the Tea Party. That’s all I want. I don’t want to be their leader, I don’t want to be their candidate. I just want opportunities like this where I can speak to the people and tell them what I’m about. It’s individuals. Individual decisions, everywhere. I see the same frustration in the eyes of people in Ripley to Plattsburgh to Staten Island.

TC: That must make it complicated for someone running a campaign, who is looking to organize as much support as possible.
CP: It’s not difficult. We’re talking about people. I’m happy my message is slowly getting out there to the people. And when Andrew [Cuomo] gets on board. When we start exposing the past of Andrew Cuomo, ok? So you guys get into a feeding frenzy on him, you’re going to all of a sudden seeing people looking for alternatives. It’s really early right now. Most people cannot focus on the gubernatorial race. They’re sitting back watching their televisions. It’s frustrated people like this who are out early. By the way, the more [President Barack] Obama does, the more people he’s going to excite. The more stupid things that [Gov. David] Paterson does, the more people are going to get excited. It’s all theater, this whole furlough thing is theater. Two months ago, the guy signed a bill giving up the right of the State of New York to lay off one employee. Now you tell me how stupid this is today, that this jerk is trying to pull! [Slams the table.] What did he do? The day after he tries to furlough these people, what happens? He gives raises to five of his key staff people, 29-percent raises. Are people out here smoking dope or what? How stupid is this?

TC: What’s your take on the current Republican field for governor?
CP: I don’t think [Steve] Levy’s going to be around for too long. I think [Rick] Lazio and I are going to end up in primaries. And, by the way, I like Rick Lazio. He’s a gentleman and I have respect for him. I don’t respect [Ed] Cox, you can print that. I don’t respect a state chair who forgot what his job was. Six months into the job, and he forgot! He’s supposed to objectively vet potential candidates to his party. He goes and spends all that time going out and getting a Democrat.

TC: Ideologically, what sets you apart from Rick Lazio?
CP: On substantive issues, we’re much the same. We feel strongly about cutting spending and cutting taxes. It’s the person that I am. I’m an outsider. I have a very, very confrontational way about me. I’m unique. I’m thick- skinned. The political crap doesn’t bother me. I find it very, very treacherous. It’s a treacherous mine field that they’ve created to try to scare away good people from running for office.

TC: Much like those stories about allegedly racist e-mails you’d sent?
CP: For Christ’s sakes. I resend e-mails to a select group of 25 friends, and they’re humor during a time of an election. But I apologized, it was reckless of me, it was careless of me. I’m not a perfect human being. But if that’s all they got? [Laughs] You watch. We’re going to take this Andrew Cuomo down. We’re going to tell people what a mean-spirited person this is. This man is not a good man. I quote Alan Greenspan. “This guy is the father of the subprime meltdown.” The father of it! He was so proud he appeared in press conferences to pat himself on the back and pound his chest and say “This is what I’m doing. Every American’s going to own a home.” He took advantage of the poor people.

TC: If you were elected governor, would there still be a need for a Tea Party?
CP: No, I think people would go back and they’d be satisfied with what I’m doing. They don’t want to be a party. They don’t want a continuation of this. I want to run on the Republican and Conservative lines against Andrew Cuomo on the Working Family, all these parties that are being investigated, Working Family, the Independence Party, and the Democrats, which should be investigated.

TC: Does Rand Paul’s victory in Kentucky give you a boost?
CP: I think it means a lot to the John Q. Public to know that they’re not alone and that this thing is national. There’s a revolution going on and its gaining momentum everyday. This guy didn’t just beat him, he beat him good. He’s going to go on. They say he’s more conservative than Cheney. So he’s obviously making a big impact. And the Specter thing in Pennsylvania also is a clear message. Unfortunately, our leadership in this state, the political and elected leadership, are just in massive denial. They think for some reason, these people, I’ll call them the Joe Citizens, whether they be Tea Party people or the Nine-Twelvers or patriots, or whatever they might be, they’re treating them like they’re aliens, and they don’t know what they’re doing. Like they’re just crawling out of the woods. That’s not the case.

TC: Does Myers Mermel jumping into the governor’s race complicate your own quest for the nomination?
CP: I welcome everybody to get involved here. I think this convention should be wide open. I think some of the early thinking about Mr. Lazio is a thing of the past. A lot of people I’ve been talking to are saying they don’t feel committed. They’ve said at the time that they were pleased with Mr. Lazio, but that hasn’t necessarily carried through to the convention floor.

TC: Will you form a third line if you don’t get the Republican line?
CP: No, no, no, no. We will petition our way onto the Republican ballot. And then we’ll beat all their candidates. There’s no question about it. If they don’t give us the 25 percent and put us on the ballot, we will petition our way onto it. Now, if the Conservative Party chooses not to give us the Conservative endorsement, then we will petition a third line, and unfortunately that won’t be nice for the Conservative Party.

TC: Why’s that?
CP: Because disaffected voters will follow us to that third line, and they won’t go to the Conservative line. And when Lazio loses the Republican primary, what’s Lazio going to do? Think he’s going to stay in? Of course not.

TC: So you’re in to the bitter end?
CP: If I start something, I commit to it and I finish it. I’m going to Albany January 1.

TC: What’s your reaction to the discussion of your role as a kingmaker, as far of your support of Erie County?
CP: I’m not for sale. I’m an outsider. I’m perfectly comfortable being an outsider. They recognize reality and recognize what’s really going on out there with Republican voters, there is the same thing going on all over the state. The people are fed up with the traditional party nonsense. They’re sick of it. They don’t want to hear it anymore. It’s done. Some of the leadership hasn’t figured it out yet. Obviously the vice-chairs of the Republican party haven’t figured it out yet. They’re just praying I might go away. Obviously they’re very disturbed over my run. Because I intend to go to Albany and not owe anybody anything, okay? The only people I’m going to owe are my aunt and my uncle for giving me the stamina and sense of good judgment that I have with me.

TC: What about your mother?
CP: And my mother for taking care of me all those years, you’re absolutely right, buddy.