State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was officially named the Democratic nominee for governor today.

Speaking this morning on the last day of the party's convention in Westchester, the son of three-term governor Mario Cuomo sounded an optimistic tone for the future of the state, despite the fact that he said that there is much work to be done.

"The answer is not to get angry, it's to get united," he said. "It's to get positive. That's how we move forward. The answer is to say, 'We are New York.' We are the laboratory for the American experiment of Democracy. The Statue of Liberty stands in our harbor. We are the welcome mat for the nation."

The 20-minute-long acceptance speech touted issues of reform, social justice and rescue from financial crisis.

"We're not going to do it with words. They've heard the speeches. They've heard the words," Cuomo said. "You're not going to talk them into trusting the state government. We're going to have to show them they can trust the state government. We're going to have to act. We're going to have to do more with deeds then with words, my friends, to clean up Albany."

Breaking with party tradition, Cuomo expressed support for charter schools and called for fiscal conservatism and property tax caps. He also took jabs at the state Legislature, urging them to pass a budget – which is about eight weeks late.

"I know that you're upset that the state government hasn't functioned. I know that you're upset Wall Street is still getting paid out by your tax dollars....," said Cuomo. "When society is in a crisis, it is the Democratic party that steps up and rises to the challenge and today, my friends, New York State is in crisis and it's time this Democratic Party stood up and made this state the Empire State once again."

The Democratic nominee has called for no new taxes "for now," and while it took some prodding, he acknowledged that health care and education would have to be slashed.

Cuomo, who had a failed bid for the nomination eight years ago, was introduced by former City Comptroller William Thompson, Suffolk County Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher, and Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, who said Cuomo is ready to "put Albany back to work."

The temperament of Cuomo is likely to re-emerge as an issue, and when the new nominee was asked after his speech how he has changed since 2002, he ignored the question.

"I heard a candidate who wants to create the impression, if not the reality, of running against a lot of people in the room, of trying to make them feel that this is actually good for them," said Lawrence Levy of Hofstra University.

Cuomo said that he plans to visit all 62 counties during his campaign.

He faces a divided Republican Party, and observers note the GOP may be missing a golden opportunity to retake the state's executive mansion.

Republicans have criticized Cuomo as a hollow hack, who got this opportunity from his father.

"He's not the king yet; he's only the prince," said New York State Republican Chairman Edward Cox. "Today he's being coronated here as the prince after being nominated. But his record is not a good record. It is a record of naivete and willing to play the political role, rather than playing the role that he should have played in his offices."

Yesterday, Cuomo picked Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy as his choice for lieutenant governor, and today Duffy addressed the convention for the first time, promoting Cuomo's message from change in state government.

Duffy is known for his push for education reform and cracking down on the city's high crime rate.

"He has done in Rochester what we need to do in New York State: get our fiscal house in order, consolidate government, focus on economic development and bring 100 percent integrity and honor back to government,” said Cuomo of his suggested running mate.

"The [attorney general] has talked about trust, about fiscal responsibility about restoring trust and integrity,” said Duffy. “And as a mayor for the last four plus years, I’ve seen firsthand the failures we've seen in the state."

The Democratic Party's candidate for lieutenant governor is chosen by voters in a separate primary.

Amid all the discussion of the gubernatorial election, outgoing Governor David Paterson never showed up at the convention. Cuomo said Paterson spoke to him from Albany, and a spokesman for the governor said that Paterson was working on the delayed state budget.