Carl P. Paladino, the Republicans’ choice for New York governor, may be getting a bit ahead of himself. The blustering businessman from Buffalo already seems to have visions of the White House dancing somewhere in the back of his head.

On his campaign Web site, prominently displayed near the top of the home page, is a notice that says in large white-on-black type, “The last NY governor from Buffalo became president of the United States.” This message is rendered in capital letters, just to make sure you don’t miss it.

The reference is to Grover Cleveland, who indeed was from Buffalo, who indeed became governor and who indeed went on to the White House  two nonconsecutive terms in the late 19th century that made him both the 22nd and the 24th president. On the Web site, a photo of Cleveland appears side by side with one of Mr. Paladino.

Though Cleveland was a Democrat and Mr. Paladino is a Republican, the two men have things in common, including fiscal conservatism and a distaste for political patronage and bossism. Oh, there’s one other matter:

Both acknowledged having fathered children who in a quainter time were described as  pass the smelling salts  illegitimate.