Why Nixon fears nod from mayor

ALBANY – Cynthia Nixon, who in Wednesday's debate with Gov. Cuomo declined to say if she wants Mayor de Blasio's endorsement, said Thursday she fears her friend the mayor's backing could lead to political retribution against the city if she loses the primary.

“Frankly, it would be a difficult thing for the mayor to do because we know how famously vindictive the governor is,” Nixon said during an appearance Thursday on NY1, the first of several morning television appearances.

“Bill de Blasio can take care of himself, but I would worry that if he would endorse me and I don't win the primary … that the governor might take it out on the city.”

She noted that Cuomo talked about cutting funding for various community groups that backed her early in her primary campaign.

“There seems to be a hardline for the governor to draw between what is a personal beef and what he takes out on people's constituents and people's members,” Nixon said.

Cuomo, who has warred with the mayor, also declined during Wednesday's debate to say if he wants de Blasio's endorsement.

Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said Nixon's comments were “par for the course and more of the same Nixon paranoia.”

Meanwhile, de Blasio may not have made an endorsement in the gubernatorial primary yet, but he thinks Nixon is an “extraordinary human being” — while Cuomo's debate performance was “a little bit desperate.”

He downplayed Nixon's contention that he hasn't endorsed her for fear of retribution from the governor even while alluding to his previous comments that Cuomo governs by vendetta.

While Nixon is trailing badly in the polls, de Blasio argued the race would be “unpredictable.”