Tag: andrew cuomo

Siena poll (NY-SEN): Giuliani beats Gillibrand by 8 points.

(Via RCP) I’m still trying to reconcile a 46/38 result among registered voters (which represents a flip since January 2009) with Siena’s statement that half of NY voters can want Giuliani to run for neither Governor nor Senator, unless a large proportion of those voters don’t want him to run because he could actually win. Absent a look at the actual questions, I’m not sure whether I can reconcile.  Giuliani in the Senate would be… interesting.  And an improvement over the current incumbent, of course.  Lots of stuff in that poll, by the way: the general thing that you’ll take away from it is that Andrew Cuomo has an almost-lock on the gubernatorial nomination and election, and that New Yorkers loathe their current state government.

It’s going to be an interesting primary there next year.

Moe Lane

Crossposted to RedState.

NY Senate Watch: Paterson (D) could end this, any time?

He arguably has the authority to do so.  And knows it.

Groups call on Paterson to appoint Lt. Governor

Citizens Union, Common Cause and Assemb. Michael Gianaris (D- Astoria) urged Paterson to exercise the authority given him by Section 43 of the Public Officers Law.

The provision reads in part, “if a vacancy shall occur, otherwise than by expiration of term, with no provision of the law for filling the same, if the office be elective, the governor shall appoint a person to execute the duties thereof until the vacancy shall be fill by an election.”

Gianaris said the groups’ idea was presented to Paterson several weeks ago and he hasn’t yet made a decision.

It seems odd that Paterson, who is (like other Democratic governors) polling extraordinarily badly right now, doesn’t seem all that interested in ending the Senate mess in NY*, or at least getting it under some sort of control.  Then again, it seems odd that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo would be arguing against the constitutionality of a solution that would arguably help not only New York, but his own party head.

Well, no.  Not really.  An out-of-control Senate is a wonderful thing, if you’re a Democrat trying to unseat an incumbent…

Moe Lane

Continue reading NY Senate Watch: Paterson (D) could end this, any time?

Andrew Cuomo still not running for NY Governor.

If the last month should have done anything, it should have caused NY State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to at least re-evaluate his decision not to challenge current Governor David Paterson for the job.  Since then, Paterson’s numbers have stayed awful: 19% from Marist, 28% from Quinnipac, 18% from Siena.  The consensus is that Giuliani beats Paterson; Cuomo beats Paterson; and that Cuomo beats Giuliani.  The situation for Paterson is in fact so bad that his own consituents would rather have their old governor back right now, and their old governor has a name for liking to choke prostitutes*.

And yet, Cuomo won’t run.

Governor David Paterson won’t get challenge from Andrew Cuomo

Primary fights are great for Democrats, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo asserts.

And no, he insisted again Sunday, he has no plans to challenge Gov. Paterson.

Either Cuomo really doesn’t want the job, or he’s quietly worried about any Democrat’s chances in 2010.  Given the nature of the economy in general and New York’s in particular, there may be something to that last worry – and if so, it’s something to consider when trying to decide how doomed the Republican Party is in the Northeast.

Moe Lane

*Which is why he won’t be running again, rehabilitation dreams to the contrary.  The editorial cartoons draw themselves.

Crossposted to RedState.