Denise O'Donnell

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In the hours before state Democrats chose their candidate Tuesday for attorney general and, again, in the minutes before the choice was announced, Denise E. O'Donnell was thinking ahead to her post-convention campaign.

As expected, Andrew M. Cuomo, a former secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, easily won the nomination with 67 percent of votes from the more than 400 delegates at the Democratic State Convention.

Mark J. Green, a former New York City public advocate, finished second with 19 percent, then Buffalo native O'Donnell, a former U.S. Attorney, who received 10 percent of the votes.

Charlie King, a Democratic party activist, received 5 percent and Sean P. Maloney, a former official in the Clinton administration, received .4 percent.

Anticipating she wouldn't get a spot on the September primary ballot, O'Donnell told a reporter for The Buffalo News early Tuesday afternoon: "I am very disappointed. Ultimately, it doesn't reflect well on a party that prides itself on inclusion and diversity."

She lamented the possibility of a state ticket lacking a woman or upstate representation.

"If I am not the Democratic nominee, it will be 2010 before we have another opportunity to elect a woman or an upstater," she said.

The roll call of delegates took more than an hour, with votes cast verbally in order of Assembly districts. With the final count under way, O'Donnell issued a news release announcing "the launch of the real beginning of her campaign," in which she will petition to be on the ballot.

Candidates must receive 25 percent of the party vote to automatically make the ballot. Otherwise, at least 15,000 signatures are required for those who seek a spot through petition.

"This is a false moment," O'Donnell said. "The real campaign starts when the convention is over."

"I've always known this race would be tough, and I've been a prosecutor long enough to know that you have to take your evidence to the jury. The voters of New York will be the ultimate jury, and I am more confident today than ever, that when voters see the evidence they will support me."

A Buffalo native, O'Donnell was a social worker in New York City before becoming a lawyer. She was appointed U.S. Attorney for Western New York in 1997 and served as vice chairwoman on Attorney General Janet Reno's advisory committee.

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown had a voice in Tuesday afternoon's proceedings, as the person who seconded Cuomo's nomination.

"Andrew Cuomo has been a fighter for the people and the places that need help. And he gets results," said Brown, citing Cuomo's efforts on behalf of fair housing in Buffalo.

"The word is justice," said Cuomo: racial, economic and social justice, including legalizing same-sex marriages.