New York City's annual Columbus Day parade has become the new center of controversy in the race for governor. Republican candidate Carl Paladino and democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo were both on hand, only a day after Paladino came under fire over comments he made to a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders. Paladino isn't apologizing for his remarks, but he did try to clarify them. Our Grace Rauh reports.

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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is on damage control over comments he made about gays in a speech he delivered Sunday at a Brooklyn synagogue.

While marching in Manhattan's Columbus Day Parade, Paladino said that he did not speak out against the gay lifestyle and is only opposed to same-sex marriage.

"I unequivocally support gay rights, unequivocally. The one thing that I don't [support] is marriage, all right? I'm a Catholic," said Paladino. "There are 7.5 million Catholics out there. I believe in the Catholic position on it, and that's the way it is. And if Andrew doesn't like it, he should go see a priest."

This comes a day after the Republican nominee addressed a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and said that being gay is "not the example we should be showing our children," and that he did not want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option."

The Republican nominee said Monday that his comments were in disapproval of his Democratic rival Andrew Cuomo choosing to take his children to a gay pride parade.

"There's extremists everyplace, and the guys in the gay pride parade in their little speedos who do their grinding motion up there, children should not see that. And Andrew was wrong in bringing his children to such an event," said Paladino.

Paladino said he supports gay couples being able to adopt children, but said that he does not want children learning about homosexuality and gay lifestyles in schools.

Earlier Mondau on talk shows, Paladino said there was a discussion with the Jewish leaders on what he would say and claimed he crossed out most of the remarks prepared for him.

Cuomo's campaign said on Sunday that Paladino's comments make it clear the Republican nominee is unfit to represent New York.

In a statement, the Cuomo campaign said, "Mr. Paladino's statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality."

Republican candidate for state attorney general Dan Donovan has distanced himself from Paladino, and said in a statement Monday, "Any statements of this nature are offensive. We should be fostering a dialogue on tolerance. These statements do not achieve that, and I do not agree with them."