Molinaro gets unwanted tag
Conservative ad links him to Don
ALBANY – The state Conservative Party, which is backing Republican Marc Molinaro for governor, did something he's tried not to do—tied the GOPer to President Trump.
The Conservative Party announced a new statewide radio ad that will run through Election Day urging New Yorkers to vote for Molinaro on its line in a show of support for Trump.
“This election, vote Molinaro for governor on the Conservative Party line, Row C,” the ad says. “Send a message that you stand with President Trump because there's more to do to make America great again.”
Molinaro—whom Gov. Cuomo has branded repeatedly as a Trump mini-me—has sought to distance himself from the President. He has said he did not vote for Trump and has said he will criticize him when he disagrees with him.
But the Conservative Party in its ad makes it clear it is all in with Trump, whom a Siena College poll released Monday showed 59% of likely New York voters view unfavorably.
Trump, though, remains popular with New York Republicans—70% view him favorably—and Conservatives, with 83% having a favorable view.
“Donald Trump launched a revolution from New York right here in New York,” the ad says. “And the New York State Conservative Party was right there with him.”
Cuomo has made it clear he will continue to focus his reelection campaign on hammering Trump.
“Andrew Cuomo wants to make this election all about Trump,” the ad says. “The Conservative Party says bring it on. The Conservative Party backs Trump. Unapologetically. And when you vote Marc Molinaro for governor on the Conservative Party line, you do more than vote. You make a statement.”
The Conservative Party ad not only looks to mobilize the base, but seemingly is trying to boost voting on the line so that the party can maintain it's third spot on the ballot the next four years. Ballot placement is determined by the amount of votes each party gets on the gubernatorial line every four years.
Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Dani Lever said that “this ad from Marc Molinaro's most enthusiastic supporters confirms what New Yorkers knew all along – Molinaro is a Trump mini-me whose extreme conservative views fly in the face of New York values.”
Molinaro campaign spokeswoman Katherine Delgado did not directly address the ad.
“When Marc Molinaro is governor, New York will again enjoy freedom of expression and be tolerant of all views — even Bernie-lite Andrew Cuomo socialism,” she said.
The Siena poll had Cuomo leading Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, by a 50%to-28% margin among likely voters, with four minor party candidates—including actress Cynthia Nixon, who lost to the governor in the Democratic primary — drawing 14% of the vote. Nixon, who has the support of 10% of voters, could be out of the race this week as the progressive Working Families Party meets to decide whether to keep her on the ballot or replace her with Cuomo or another lesser-known candidate.