Chuck a no-show for Andy’s party

ALBANY — While most of the Democratic establishment coalesced behind Gov. Cuomo at last week’s party nominating convention, one of the nation’s most powerful Dems was a notable exception. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader who hails from New York, did not attend the convention where Cuomo was nominated for a third term.

Nor was Schumer in a campaign video featuring elected officials, ordinary New Yorkers and Cuomo family members backing the governor.

Schumer’s spokesman, Angelo Roefaro, also continues to decline to say whether New York’s senior senator backs Cuomo over actress/activist Cynthia Nixon, who is challenging the governor from the left in the Democratic primary.

“They are getting together soon to discuss,” Roefaro said.

Cuomo and Schumer have never been close. But at a time when Cuomo vows that New York will be the state that leads the resistance against President Trump, Schumer’s lack of public support for the two-term governor’s reelection has taken even some longtime Democrats by surprise.

“It tells you everything you need to know about the state of the relationship that a two-term governor needs to meet with the state’s senior senator of his own party to discuss an endorsement,” a Democratic operative said.

“Here's this guy in his backyard, who has a lot of power in this little club called the U.S. Senate,” the insider added.

“You would think at the very moment Cuomo is trying to drape himself in the arms of the party as a protector of all that is virtuous and progressive, he would find ways to partner and work with Schumer.”

A Cuomo insider downplayed the situation. “Of course the senator will be endorsing the governor for reelection and that endorsement will be rolled out at the appropriate time,” the Cuomo insider said.

After Cuomo’s and Schumer’s offices spoke Sunday, a source close to Schumer said the governor and senator have worked together on a number of issues and an endorsement is expected.

Cuomo got more than 95% percent of the convention vote. Nixon will seek to petition her way on to the ballot.

lll Cuomo’s father, former three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo, passed three years ago, but his presence loomed large at last week’s Democratic state party convention.

Gov. Cuomo’s mother, Matilda Cuomo, former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and others all warmly discussed Mario Cuomo in their remarks to delegates and tied the governor to him and his legacy.

Mario Cuomo remains revered by many on the left who are less than enthused about the Cuomo now residing in the governor’s mansion.

“Invoking Mario Cuomo’s name creates a kinder reference to the Cuomo name, makes it less harsh, and makes it more left,” said veteran Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf.

lll Nixon at last week’s Democratic convention picked up less than 5% of the vote — and got no votes from black delegates.

“That should open some eyes,” said Cuomo ally Charlie King, a former executive director of the state Democratic party.

Nixon acknowledges that to upset Cuomo in the September primary, she must cut into his edge in the black community.

Her people dismiss the convention vote, saying Cuomo tightly controlled the event. They note two black women nominated Nixon at the convention.

lll Cuomo is said to have averted disaster during his 48-minute convention acceptance speech.

Staffers say that shortly after taking the stage, Cuomo’s teleprompter died.

Aides quickly tried to fix it — but Cuomo wound up giving the speech from memory, they say.