Union buys gov’s pitch

Retail workers give early boost

ALBANY — The union representing retail and wholesale workers is throwing its support behind Gov. Cuomo’s reelection effort. Stuart Applebaum (photo below, left), president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said the early endorsement is designed to send a message to progressive groups that the Democrats should be working to win back the House and state Senate rather than focusing on a potential primary against Cuomo (below right).

“We want to send a message that with everything else that is going on in this country, we cannot afford to be divided,”Applebaum said.

Several liberal Democrats have been mentioned as possible primary opponents, including former Hudson Valley state Sen. Terry Gipson, who has opened a campaign committee.

“What we should be using our resources and energy on is ensuring a Democratic state Senate and making sure New York does its part in taking back the U.S. House of Representatives,” Applebaum said. “That means we should be uniting behind our Democratic governor who achieves progress reforms.”

Applebaum, who is also a member of the Democratic National Convention executive committee, praised Cuomo for progressive accomplishments during his first two terms — like the legalization of samesex marriage, enactment of a statewide paid family leave program, and a $15-anhour minimum wage — even while working with a Republican-controlled state Senate.

“He’s done these things in a way that is in sharp contrast with what is happening in Washington,” Applebaum said. “He’s been able to work with both sides of the aisle to get his agenda through and that’s impressive.”

Applebaum downplayed Cuomo from the left.

“We’re arguing about how far we’re going to advance, not protecting ourselves from retreating,” he said.

lll Republican consultants want to borrow a page from the campaign playbook of new Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat, by focusing relentlessly on the issue of corruption when challenging Cuomo this year.

Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman Andrea Catsimatidis last Wednesday held a meeting criticism of with more than 15 GOP operatives for the second time in recent weeks to discuss the race.

Catsimatidis said the biggest focus was on how to use the upcoming federal corruption trials of former Cuomo aides and associates against the governor.

Consultant O’Brien Murray, who attended the meeting and was on the wrong side of Curran’s victory over GOP candidate Jack Martins, said the Democrat hammered Martins nonstop over ties to Nassau County Republicans hit with corruption charges. “It worked in Nassau when there wasn’t an issue about the candidate,” Murray said. “Here you have a case where the issue is right at (Cuomo’s) doorstep.”

A Democratic insider referenced Republican corruption scandals both in New York and nationally.

“New Yorkers are concerned about the Republican tax assault on New York, but if Republican consultants want to talk about (GOP corruption), then by all means,” the Democrat said.

lll The state Reform Party led by Guardian Angels founder and radio host Curtis Sliwa has begun the process of interviewing candidates to take on Cuomo and hopes to have its pack by late March.

Sliwa and party official Frank Morano already interviewed former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, and liberal activist Bill Samuels, who has not made a decision to run but wanted to gauge the possibility of getting the Reform Party line if he does.

Next on tap is Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, the only other declared Republican candidate. State Senate GOP Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco, also considering a run, has not contacted Reform Party officials about their line, Sliwa said.

The party plans to hold an early March debate for candidates seeking its line.