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Andrew Cuomo's War Chest Scares Albany Democrats
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 16, 2010
Modified Aug 16, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 16, 2010
Modified Aug 16, 2010
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For NY State Democrats, it's a good news/bad news situation with gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo's enormous $23 million. On one hand, it gives him an advantage over his challengers, whether it's Rick Lazio or Carl Paladino (or both). But the worry, according to the Post, is that Cuomo might use some of that money to tell voters some shocking news—that Albany is dysfunctional!—which would cost Democrats seats in the Legislature.
A "prominent" Democrat told the Post, "The big question for many Democrats is, 'Does Andrew's message take a major toll on his own party?'" And sources "said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) worries that a dozen or more Democratic Assembly members will be defeated because of unprecedented anti-incumbent sentiment among voters -- as well as Albany's well-earned reputation for dysfunction and runaway tax-and-spend policies."
A lobbyist said, "If Andrew spends, say, $10 million in his campaign just emphasizing the theme that Albany is broken, that surely will contribute to the defeat of some Democratic candidates." Remember, this is the same Albany that took ages to get the budget passed this year, that rejected the same sex marriage bill last year, and that went into gridlock because two State Senate Democrats defected and essentially staged a coup.
Tagged
Albany
andrew cuomo
Democrats
dysfunction
election 2010
NY State Democrats
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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