Cuomo establishment turns to saving Hochul
Source: Capital New York
ALBANYGovernor Andrew Cuomo and the state Democratic party apparatus are mobilizing their considerable resources in an effort to protect Kathy Hochul, following attacks from her primary opponent and a blistering critique from the New York Times.
Hochul went on a defensive publicity tour Thursday, packing her schedule with appearances in Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls and Buffalo, issuing a three-minute long campaign ad re-explaining her progressive values to voters. After granting few interviews in her first few months, Hochul sat for a nearly half-hour with WCNYs Susan Arbetter, in an attempt to rebut criticism of what the Times referred to as her deeply troubling record on health reform, gun control and environmental deregulation.
It would take more than an energetic candidate and a bad Times editorial to unseat Cuomo, who has a $32.5 million warchest and is likely to win re-election despite his opponents' best efforts. But Hochul is far less well-known than Cuomo, especially in New York City, where the bulk of Democratic primary voters reside. And the New York State election law has another quirk: the lieutenant governor runs on a separate ballot from the governor.
As the campaign's response seems to indicate, Hochul now finds herself in a considerably more precarious position than Cuomo. A scenario (for which there are recent historical precedents) in which Cuomo beats Zephyr Teachout but Hochul loses to Wu could make the next four years unpleasant for the governor, especially given Wus promise, if elected, that he will not take orders from the governor.
Read more: http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8551604/cuomo-establishment-turns-saving-hochul
Livening up an otherwise dull Primary.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)realizes that there is a primary. I think that is changing. I actually had a pro-Cuomo call the other night.
DeadLetterOffice
(1,352 posts)The campaign guy didn't quite know how to respond to me saying "I'll vote for your guy in the general election because he's better than the Republican, but I don't like him and I'm voting for his opponent in the primary."
And I hope Wu does take the primary -- I'm all about making Cuomo "uncomfortable" for the next 4 years.