DEMOCRATS LAROCCA, VALLONE LINE UP ENDORSEMENTS.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: MARC HUMBERT Associated Press

ALBANY -- Gearing up for the state Democratic convention later this month, gubernatorial candidates James Larocca and Peter Vallone announced more endorsements Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross' camp said it was prepared to go the petition route to get on the September primary ballot if it failed to win the 25 percent of the convention's weighted votes needed to gain a ballot spot.

McCaughey Ross' campaign manager, Robert Becker, said a team was already being assembled to mount the petition drive if necessary for the candidate who has been a Democrat only since September.

The …