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Cuomo vs. Nixon? He’d Rather Campaign Against Trump Cuomo vs. Nixon? He’d Rather Campaign Against Trump
(35 minutes later)
There was a time when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo used to shy away from criticizing President Trump. No more.There was a time when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo used to shy away from criticizing President Trump. No more.
Now, as the governor seeks a third term, he rarely goes even a day without slinging a one-liner at Mr. Trump or threatening to sue him.Now, as the governor seeks a third term, he rarely goes even a day without slinging a one-liner at Mr. Trump or threatening to sue him.
He has said Mr. Trump should be “ashamed” of the impact of separating families at the border, called on him to apologize to Puerto Rico (“They deserve more from you than paper towels”) and said his joint appearance with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin would have had the founding fathers rolling over “in their graves.”He has said Mr. Trump should be “ashamed” of the impact of separating families at the border, called on him to apologize to Puerto Rico (“They deserve more from you than paper towels”) and said his joint appearance with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin would have had the founding fathers rolling over “in their graves.”
It represents a sharp change in tactics for Mr. Cuomo, who as recently as mid-2017 said he found “nasty ad hominem attacks” on Mr. Trump unhelpful.It represents a sharp change in tactics for Mr. Cuomo, who as recently as mid-2017 said he found “nasty ad hominem attacks” on Mr. Trump unhelpful.
His rhetorical shift has far more to do with putting down an aggressive primary challenge from the activist and actress Cynthia Nixon in 2018 than any rumored presidential ambitions in 2020; one of Mr. Cuomo’s most recent television ads begins with the line, “He’s taking on Trump’s agenda.”His rhetorical shift has far more to do with putting down an aggressive primary challenge from the activist and actress Cynthia Nixon in 2018 than any rumored presidential ambitions in 2020; one of Mr. Cuomo’s most recent television ads begins with the line, “He’s taking on Trump’s agenda.”
But taking on Mr. Trump also thrusts Mr. Cuomo, whose extemporaneous speaking style can lead to verbal misfires, into the national spotlight, for better or worse.But taking on Mr. Trump also thrusts Mr. Cuomo, whose extemporaneous speaking style can lead to verbal misfires, into the national spotlight, for better or worse.
On Wednesday, Mr. Cuomo, while attempting to undermine Mr. Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan, said that America “was never that great.”On Wednesday, Mr. Cuomo, while attempting to undermine Mr. Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan, said that America “was never that great.”
The remark drew furious reaction from the right — it was bannered on the Drudge Report and the talk of Fox News — further cementing Mr. Cuomo’s status as a left-wing villain from New York, as his staff sought to backtrack and push back simultaneously.The remark drew furious reaction from the right — it was bannered on the Drudge Report and the talk of Fox News — further cementing Mr. Cuomo’s status as a left-wing villain from New York, as his staff sought to backtrack and push back simultaneously.
“A total meltdown!” declared Mr. Trump.“A total meltdown!” declared Mr. Trump.
“We will not go back to discrimination, segregation, sexism, isolationism, racism or the KKK,” Mr. Cuomo replied.“We will not go back to discrimination, segregation, sexism, isolationism, racism or the KKK,” Mr. Cuomo replied.
For a governor known for his fixation with polls (he has spent nearly $300,000 on them since the start of 2017), the anti-Trump strategy is informed by months of focus groups and survey research, according to people involved with the campaign. Mr. Cuomo has rotated the issues he has challenged Mr. Trump on — immigration, abortion and guns most loudly of late — but the broader frame of him leading the charge against the White House has been the same.For a governor known for his fixation with polls (he has spent nearly $300,000 on them since the start of 2017), the anti-Trump strategy is informed by months of focus groups and survey research, according to people involved with the campaign. Mr. Cuomo has rotated the issues he has challenged Mr. Trump on — immigration, abortion and guns most loudly of late — but the broader frame of him leading the charge against the White House has been the same.
“Thank God for New Yorkers that we have his tenacity, his toughness, his competence and his experience because he knows how to push back,” said Maggie Moran, Mr. Cuomo’s campaign manager.“Thank God for New Yorkers that we have his tenacity, his toughness, his competence and his experience because he knows how to push back,” said Maggie Moran, Mr. Cuomo’s campaign manager.
Ms. Nixon and other progressive activists argue the notion of Mr. Cuomo as an anti-Trump standard-bearer is risible. She pointed out this week that the day after the 2016 election, Mr. Cuomo had said the fact that Mr. Trump hailed from New York was a potential “bonus.” And she noted that Mr. Trump, formerly a Democrat, was once a donor to Mr. Cuomo, calling on the governor to return his money. (Mr. Cuomo has declined.)Ms. Nixon and other progressive activists argue the notion of Mr. Cuomo as an anti-Trump standard-bearer is risible. She pointed out this week that the day after the 2016 election, Mr. Cuomo had said the fact that Mr. Trump hailed from New York was a potential “bonus.” And she noted that Mr. Trump, formerly a Democrat, was once a donor to Mr. Cuomo, calling on the governor to return his money. (Mr. Cuomo has declined.)
“The reality is that Cuomo is desperately trying to run against Donald Trump because he doesn’t have the progressive credentials to run against me,” she said on Thursday.“The reality is that Cuomo is desperately trying to run against Donald Trump because he doesn’t have the progressive credentials to run against me,” she said on Thursday.
When Ms. Nixon first emerged on the scene in March, Mr. Cuomo had found himself seemingly responding to her every move. Her campaign gleefully branded it #TheCynthiaEffect, as he moved toward legalizing marijuana, for example, or presided over Democrats reuniting in Albany after years of division that had helped empower Republicans.When Ms. Nixon first emerged on the scene in March, Mr. Cuomo had found himself seemingly responding to her every move. Her campaign gleefully branded it #TheCynthiaEffect, as he moved toward legalizing marijuana, for example, or presided over Democrats reuniting in Albany after years of division that had helped empower Republicans.
But the governor has mostly ignored her in recent months, doing so at the urging of numerous advisers who intervened in late spring to say his aggression was damaging his own standing while elevating hers. He recently agreed to one televised debate.But the governor has mostly ignored her in recent months, doing so at the urging of numerous advisers who intervened in late spring to say his aggression was damaging his own standing while elevating hers. He recently agreed to one televised debate.
While Mr. Cuomo had begun to speak out directly against Mr. Trump months before Ms. Nixon emerged on the scene — especially about the tax cut legislation that targeted high-tax states like New York and the slow response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico — he has clearly turbocharged his rhetoric and focus in recent months.While Mr. Cuomo had begun to speak out directly against Mr. Trump months before Ms. Nixon emerged on the scene — especially about the tax cut legislation that targeted high-tax states like New York and the slow response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico — he has clearly turbocharged his rhetoric and focus in recent months.
By early May, Mr. Cuomo was incorporating the line that “New York is the alternative state to Trump’s America” not just into his stump speech but his administration’s daily posture.By early May, Mr. Cuomo was incorporating the line that “New York is the alternative state to Trump’s America” not just into his stump speech but his administration’s daily posture.
There have been cable news hits, news conferences and, in a particular Cuomo favorite, sternly worded open letters (eight since the start of July) to Mr. Trump and his administration.There have been cable news hits, news conferences and, in a particular Cuomo favorite, sternly worded open letters (eight since the start of July) to Mr. Trump and his administration.
His tactical shift was particularly evident at an event at a Manhattan hospital last month, when he railed against “Trump and his cronies” for undermining the health care system. A year earlier, the governor appeared on the very same stage, with the same banner — “Fighting for N.Y.’s Healthcare” — that was used last month. Then, Mr. Cuomo had conspicuously avoided saying Mr. Trump’s name.His tactical shift was particularly evident at an event at a Manhattan hospital last month, when he railed against “Trump and his cronies” for undermining the health care system. A year earlier, the governor appeared on the very same stage, with the same banner — “Fighting for N.Y.’s Healthcare” — that was used last month. Then, Mr. Cuomo had conspicuously avoided saying Mr. Trump’s name.
The new anti-Trump message is also being amplified by millions of dollars in television ads, with Mr. Cuomo’s campaign spending more than $5 million in the last month, according to his campaign filings.The new anti-Trump message is also being amplified by millions of dollars in television ads, with Mr. Cuomo’s campaign spending more than $5 million in the last month, according to his campaign filings.
As Mr. Trump arrived in upstate New York on Monday for his first visit as president, Mr. Cuomo sniped, “You have clearly forgotten what made this country great in the first place.”As Mr. Trump arrived in upstate New York on Monday for his first visit as president, Mr. Cuomo sniped, “You have clearly forgotten what made this country great in the first place.”
Mr. Cuomo has mocked the president’s “Make America Great Again” slogan before, but he has been more careful in his phrasing than his assertion on Wednesday that America “was never that great.”Mr. Cuomo has mocked the president’s “Make America Great Again” slogan before, but he has been more careful in his phrasing than his assertion on Wednesday that America “was never that great.”
It was another example of the governor, who often does not read from prepared remarks, wading into uncomfortable territory. (His office’s clarification that he did indeed see America as great, but that the nation had yet to achieve “maximum greatness,” did not stem the outrage.)It was another example of the governor, who often does not read from prepared remarks, wading into uncomfortable territory. (His office’s clarification that he did indeed see America as great, but that the nation had yet to achieve “maximum greatness,” did not stem the outrage.)
Last December, Mr. Cuomo condescended to a veteran female reporter who had asked about the state’s sexual harassment policies by saying her question was “a disservice to women.” In April, his joke that he convinced Joseph J. Lhota to lead the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by tugging on “other parts of his anatomy” fell flat.Last December, Mr. Cuomo condescended to a veteran female reporter who had asked about the state’s sexual harassment policies by saying her question was “a disservice to women.” In April, his joke that he convinced Joseph J. Lhota to lead the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by tugging on “other parts of his anatomy” fell flat.
Of the governor’s recent remarks about America, Ms. Nixon said, “I think this is just another example of Andrew Cuomo trying to figure out what a progressive sounds like and missing by a mile.”Of the governor’s recent remarks about America, Ms. Nixon said, “I think this is just another example of Andrew Cuomo trying to figure out what a progressive sounds like and missing by a mile.”
For her part, she has tried to outdo Mr. Cuomo on opposing Mr. Trump, calling to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and promising drivers licenses for people who are here illegally.For her part, she has tried to outdo Mr. Cuomo on opposing Mr. Trump, calling to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and promising drivers licenses for people who are here illegally.
And yet, Mr. Cuomo’s pitch that he is the man to take on the president has a side benefit: It casts the tough-guy tactics that Ms. Nixon has hammered him for — she calls him “Andrew the Bully” — in a positive light benefiting New York.And yet, Mr. Cuomo’s pitch that he is the man to take on the president has a side benefit: It casts the tough-guy tactics that Ms. Nixon has hammered him for — she calls him “Andrew the Bully” — in a positive light benefiting New York.
“There is a real fear amongst Democratic voters that Trump’s America is not their America and that they want somebody to fight back and fight back hard and in that regard there is nobody better than Andrew Cuomo to do just that,” said Ms. Moran, the governor’s campaign manager. “You know he’s fearless. He doesn’t cower. He’ll look a bully in the eye.”“There is a real fear amongst Democratic voters that Trump’s America is not their America and that they want somebody to fight back and fight back hard and in that regard there is nobody better than Andrew Cuomo to do just that,” said Ms. Moran, the governor’s campaign manager. “You know he’s fearless. He doesn’t cower. He’ll look a bully in the eye.”
Ms. Moran called Ms. Nixon “well-intentioned.”Ms. Moran called Ms. Nixon “well-intentioned.”
Mr. Cuomo has aggressively leveraged his incumbency to make the contrast, ordering state agencies to reject health insurance price hikes because of the president’s partial repeal of Obamacare, suing over the federal limit on deducting state and local taxes, and leaking word through senior administration officials that his tax department is investigating the Donald J. Trump Foundation (no matter that New York’s attorney general had separately already filed a lawsuit accusing the foundation of violating campaign finance laws and self-dealing.) Mr. Cuomo has aggressively leveraged his incumbency to make the contrast, ordering state agencies to reject health insurance price hikes because of the president’s partial repeal of Obamacare, suing over the federal limit on deducting state and local taxes, and leaking word through senior administration officials that his tax department is investigating the Donald J. Trump Foundation (no matter that New York’s attorney general had separately already filed a lawsuit accusing the foundation of violating campaign finance laws and self-dealing).
So eager has Mr. Cuomo been to burnish his anti-Trump credentials that he broke the news on CNN of a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration’s child-separation policy in late June before an agreed-upon embargo by the state attorneys general who were filing the suit, according to two people with direct knowledge of the episode.So eager has Mr. Cuomo been to burnish his anti-Trump credentials that he broke the news on CNN of a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration’s child-separation policy in late June before an agreed-upon embargo by the state attorneys general who were filing the suit, according to two people with direct knowledge of the episode.
“When we file, how we announce — that matters a lot to us,” said one state attorney general, not from New York, who was involved in the case and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive legal and political matter, adding that Mr. Cuomo unnecessarily gave the Trump administration advance notice, even if by an hour.“When we file, how we announce — that matters a lot to us,” said one state attorney general, not from New York, who was involved in the case and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive legal and political matter, adding that Mr. Cuomo unnecessarily gave the Trump administration advance notice, even if by an hour.
Mostly, it was viewed as Mr. Cuomo trying to take credit for a broader legal action against the Trump administration. “Amongst A.G.s, it’s a collective eye-roll,” the attorney general said.Mostly, it was viewed as Mr. Cuomo trying to take credit for a broader legal action against the Trump administration. “Amongst A.G.s, it’s a collective eye-roll,” the attorney general said.