We've pointed out many times here that Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, is doing her best to tie her political fortunes to the uber-popular Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo.

That apparently — but not definitively — extends to accepting guidance from Mr. Cuomo's office about what to say about the first-term governor.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Mr. Cuomo's office sends suggested talking points to lawmakers and public officials who introduce Mr. Cuomo, and they're sometimes used verbatim — a practice that the office defends.

Said the Wall Street Journal: "Not everyone read from the script. State Sen. Patty Ritchie, an upstate Republican, echoed similar themes when she introduced Mr. Cuomo at a Feb. 8 budget presentation in Syracuse, but used different words."

Mrs. Ritchie's office declined comment to the Wall Street Journal and to me in a follow-up request.

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