Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential state Senate Deputy Republican Majority Leader John DeFrancisco said in a radio interview Tue., Nov. 7, he will make a decision about whether to run for governor in 2018 by the end of this year. “I’m not going to run a fool’s errand, but, on the other hand, if there’s a reasonable opportunity for that nomination, I’m going for it,” he said on Talk 1300’s “Focus on the State Capitol.” DeFrancisco rejected the idea that he would run as lieutenant governor on a ticket with any other GOP candidate. DeFrancisco said that to beat Andrew Cuomo a candidate will have to be aggressive. “The only way that you can beat Andrew Cuomo in my mind is to ... challenge him and to make certain that you get his attention and that he’s responding to you,” DeFrancisco said. “Then you’ve got an opportunity to have a dialogue.” DeFrancisco is one of a handful of potential Republican gubernatorial candidates that includes Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, businessman and former comptroller candidate Harry Wilson, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.