Biden backtracked yesterday from comments he made at a Democratic fund-raiser in Manhattan that were widely viewed as an endorsement of Gov. Paterson’s re-election. “It was a statement of friendship and admiration for the governor, and was not intended as a political statement,” Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said… Biden said, “Your once and future governor of the state of New York has been extremely generous to Barack and me and has been a major part of us trying to put this economy back together.”… Polls show Cuomo would trounce Paterson if the election were held today.