Albany Watch

After stories earlier in the week that Gov. Paterson and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith are at odds, Smith’s spokesman Curtis Taylor put out a statement today that says everything is fine.

But it’s worth nothing that the first stories about their problems came out Monday and today is, um, Thursday.

Paterson also said earlier in the week that he and Smith are on good terms. But, of course, the Democratic governor hasn’t yet done anything to help Senate Democrats in their bid to win control of the Senate, and there is an strong feeling among insiders that Paterson has a non-aggression pact with Senate Republicans.

“While recently appearing on television, Governor Paterson said that New Yorkers will do well with Democrats running the State Senate and with Malcolm Smith as majority leader,” Taylor said.

“Who but Republicans, desperately holding on to a one vote majority, and their friends would try to distort the Governor’s words? Polls show that New Yorkers are pleased with Governor Paterson’s leadership and more concerned with issues rather than political gossip. New Yorkers care about economic development, lowering property taxes, and job creation—all issues that Senate Democrats, led by Malcolm Smith have championed.”