$$ moves hinting at Cuo ’20 run for prez
Gov. Cuomo has hired two Florida fund-raisers, a sign he’s building a national network to launch a presidential bid, sources told The Post.
The two consultants — one of whom is former Hillary Clinton money man Jon Adrabi — will help plan events and build relationships with Democratic donors in the key swing state, sources said.
“Hiring out-of-state fundraising staff, particularly in a battleground state, opens up money spigots beyond what would normally be available and is a key first step to laying the groundwork for a run,” said one source, a Democratic operative, who said Cuomo’s plan is to hire political consultants with experience outside of New York.
Cuomo (right), 59, has repeatedly denied he wants to run for higher office and said he is focused on reelection to his third term in 2018.
The governor has been expanding his national profile since the Democrats’ presidential electoral loss in November.
In December, the Democratic Governors Association tapped him to serve as its influential policy chair.
Among several recent out-of-state trips, he hobnobbed with colleagues at a Feb. 24 National Governors Association dinner in Washington, DC, after skipping the event six years running. He addressed a building-trades conference in Florida on March 3. And he flew to Jerusalem in a 15-hour whirl- wind jaunt to promote trade and meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“When Hillary Clinton was running, he never wanted to have anyone speculate he’s running, but now the strategy is pretty different,” said Karen Hinton, a former Cuomo aide. “He is positioning himself to be seen as a liberal who can speak to a national audience.”
State Democratic Party director Basil Smikle Jr. — who was referred to The Post by the Governor’s Office — did not dispute the Sunshine State hiring, and said Cuomo “always fund-raises across the country and uses local consultants.”
Adrabi declined to comment.
Cuomo is looking to add even more gold to his $22 million campaign war chest: he has several fundraisers planned next month, includingg a $15,000-, per-plate dinner at the St. Regis Hotel.el. Sources say a South Floridaida event is also in the works.ks.
His focusus on out-of-ofstate fund--raising is a sign he wantsants to get a jump on other Demo-Democratic hopefuls,efuls, consul-consultants say.
“Florida isis a critical state, not just for elec-electoral valuee but for con-connecting withith influencers and raisingg money,” said Dan Gerstein,tein, who ad-advised formermer Sen. Joe Lie-Lieberman (D-Conn.) in his presidentialal run.
“This is all within the normal playbook,”aybook,” he added. “Iff you are seriousus about po- sitioning yourself for a possible candidacy, you start early.”