Former Republican Rep. Rick Lazio is ready to launch his campaign for New York governor, after conducting months of outreach and fundraising around the state. Barney Keller, an adviser to Lazio, confirms that an announcement event in Albany is in the works.

Keller also said that Lazio put in a call today to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also considering a gubernatorial campaign, to let him know he was making the announcement.

Lazio served eight years in the House before making a late run for the U.S. Senate in 2000, losing soundly to Hillary Rodham Clinton after Giuliani backed out of the race. He appears less inclined to wait around for Giuliani this time around.