Last week, New York Gov. David Paterson passed over state attorney general Andrew Cuomo, naming Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the Senate vacancy of now Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Cuomo was considered by some as a shoo-in for the seat once Kennedy withdrew from consideration, citing personal reasons.

Now it seems Cuomo is passing Paterson by.

According to the New York Post, Patterson’s lead over Cuomo in a potential 2010 Democratic primary for the post of governor has shrunk from 23 points in December to two points this month.

The article points to the longtime speculation and then abrupt departure of Caroline Kennedy as Paterson’s pick and the state’s budget woes as factor in the Cuomo comeback.

Given Paterson’s pledge to expand health care coverage for all New Yorkers and Cuomo’s tough “health care reform” stance in settling with UnitedHealth and Aetna over reimbursements, insurance professionals may want to keep an eye on the 2010 race for governor.

Seems Cuomo is looking for a second bite at a bigger post in the Big Apple.