Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio replaced his campaign manager today as new polling results show a spurt for party rival Carl P. Paladino.

Matt Walter, former executive director of the state GOP and its current director of strategic planning, will take over for Kevin Fullington, Lazio said.

"I cannot thank Kevin Fullington enough for a successful convention and his long hours and hard work to ready this campaign for the final push," Lazio said.

Fullington, a veteran of several statewide Republican campaigns, remains part of the Lazio campaign, serving on its executive committee. Lazio said the changes come about as "new faces" arrive in his headquarters as part of "post-convention momentum."

State Republican Party Chairman Edward F. Cox said, "Rick and I agree that Matt will be a great campaign manager. We were successful last year and we will win this year due, in part, to the capabilities and programs Matt has helped bring to the state party."

Though the former Long Island congressman won overwhelming support at the Republican State Convention in early June, Paladino has been gaining in the polls. A new Quinnipiac Polling Institute survey released this week shows Lazio leading by a healthy 39 to 23 percent tally (with 33 percent undecided), but Paladino has improved markedly from the June 22 poll showing Lazio ahead 46 to 17 percent.

In addition, Lazio has not showed any real success in fundraising, reporting only $688,000 on hand as of July 15. Paladino has vowed to spend up to $10 million of his own money.

Other members of the new Lazio Executive Committee include Chairman Charles E. Kilbourne, a veteran of the administration of former Gov. George E. Pataki who is a managing director and secretary of the Corporation of the Financial Services Volunteer Corps; Beth Myers, most recently campaign manager for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential race; Anthony Scaramucci, managing partner of SkyBridge Capital; David James, a former assistant secretary of labor and veteran campaign official who will be director of communications; and Lynn Krogh, a veteran of Pataki's 2002 campaign who will be political director.

rmccarthy@buffnews.comnull