Cuomo's Impossible Mountain to Climb

Ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce this week that he is staying in the New York City mayoral race as an independent, despite the latest polls showing his odds of winning are slim. He is currently the strongest candidate to face Democrat-Socialist nominee, Zohran Mamdani.

 

Currently, the polls show Cuomo is the leading alternative to Mamdani among the candidates still in the race.

Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, appeared to be visibly annoyed on Sunday by Cuomo’s move when when the media caught up with him at the Bolivian Day Parade.

“We’re moving straight ahead. It’s so important that we continue to move ahead,” the Mayor scoffed after at first refusing to comment and then quickly ducking into a car.

But he was in much better spirits later in the afternoon at Manhattan’s annual Carneval Vegano, as he cut the ribbon and the crowd began chanting, “Four more years!”

He denied speculation that he might consider withdrawing from the race. “Are you kidding me?” he responded, annoyed.

Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo is still not making friends with other Democrats. “Andrew Cuomo lost the Democratic primary by double digits and is now doing the same thing he did to respected leaders like Charlie King, Governor David Paterson, and Carl McCall, Assembly Keith Wright,” the campaign wrote in a searing statement.

“This kind of political double-dealing is exactly why so many New Yorkers have lost trust in him. The people spoke loudly; he lost. Yet he continues to put himself over the number one goal- beating Mamdani and securing our city future,” the Adams camp continued.

“Let’s not forget the damage he caused as governor. Cuomo led the charge on a flawed bail reform law that made our communities less safe. He failed New York’s most vulnerable during COVID with deadly nursing home policies. And he signed a cannabis law with no enforcement plan, unleashing thousands of illegal smoke shops across the city.

“Now, in the face of a serious threat an inexperienced opponent, Cuomo is wasting time and dividing voters. He failed then — and he’s failing New Yorkers now.”

This is the sentiment across the Party, with some calling him a loser.

“Andrew is a loser. The voters called him a loser. Stop playing games with the voters and get out of the race,” said Allen Cappelli, who has known Cuomo for more than 40 years.

Cuomo is proving he has a a bigger mountain than Mamdani to climb.