Nods to gov & GOP fave
Easy endorse votes at conventions
STATE DEMOCRATS came out over whelmingly for Gov. Cuomo at the party’s nominating convention Wednesday, as New York Republicans gathered to back Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro for the state’s top job.
The incumbent governor, who faces a challenge from the left by actress Cynthia Nixon, looked like the odds-on favorite, winning more than 95% of the party members’ votes.
Since announcing her candidacy in March, Nixon has been positioning herself as the progressive alternative to the party machine.
The Dems’ convention at Hofstra University in Hempstead, L.I., however, was Cuomo’s show.
Two ministers who gave the convention's opening prayer spent more time talking up Cuomo than theydid God.
Hillary Clinton gave a fullthroated endorsement of the incumbent governor, 60, and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, 59, who was nominated by the party for a second term.
“Now more than ever we need leaders who will stand up for progressive values,” Clinton said from the podium. “We need leaders who believe in producing results and getting things done. Leaders like Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul.”
Like many speakers before her, Clinton credited Cuomo — the Housing and Urban Development secretary when her husband was President — for New York’s legalization of gay marriage, as well as the enactment of the tough SAFE Act gun-control law, creation of a statewide paid family-leave program, implementation of a $15-an-hour minimum wage and a free tuition program for some public college students.
Cuomo’s nomination was seconded by his mother, former state FirstLady Matilda Cuomo.
A short chant of “Four more years,” followed.
Nixon, 52, failed to get anywhere near the the 25% she needed to guarantee her a spot on the primary ballot. She said she will now put in the shoe leather to gather thousands of petition signatures across the state to get her name on the ballot.
“I’m here because I think it’s important that at a Democratic convention there be at least one Democrat running for governor,” she said, accusing Cuomo of governing like a Republican.
“I’m not a protest candidate. I’m a viable candidate who is really running hard for the Democratic nomination, and that’s why I’m here, to say this is my party, too. I’m not afraid, and I’m here. You can’t shut meout.”
She did not stick around for the tally.
Cuomo is to accept the nomination on Thursday, but he told reporters after the vote that he felt “gratified”by the outcome.
“For me, it’s an affirmation of everything we’ve done,” he said.
Nixon Ni di dismissed i dC Cuomo’s ’d dominance at the convention. She and her team believe progressives who will vote in the primary don’t trust the governor.
“I think that Andrew Cuomo can get all the endorsements that he wants,” she said before the vote. “The fact of the matter is people are going to be voting on his record, which is not very progressive.”
At least the actress got invited. Mayor de Blasio griped that party leaderssnubbed him.
“There was not an invitation to play a meaningful role at the convention,” the mayor said at an unrelated press conference in the Bronx.
Molinaro’s nomination was less contentious than Cuomo’s, but not as well-attended.
ThestateGOP tappedMolinaro, 42, in the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan with almost as many empty seats as party delegates.
He will try to do what no Republican has done since 2002 — win New York’s top elected office.
“I stand before you today grateful, humbled — especially humbled — for the leap of faith you are taking inme,” Molinaro told the crowd.
Introduced to the stage by the state’s last Republican governor, George Pataki, Molinaro, who is running with lieutenant governor candidate Julie Killian, described himself as an “everyday New Yorker” and pledged to bring a “revolution” to New York by reducing the state’s tax burden and cleaning up what he described as a bloated and corrupt government.
State GOP leader Ed Cox tipped his hat to Manhattan lawyer Keith Wofford, 49, for state attorney general, offering him a much-needed endorsementin a crowded field.
Public Advocate Letitia James, 59, scored the Dems’ nomination for AG by winning 85% of the vote, easily beating out her closest competition — Fordham Law Prof. ZephyrTeachout, 46.
Democrats unanimously nominated state Controller Thomas DiNapoli, 64, for a third term.