New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threw cold water on any hopes that he’d run for the White House after President Trump said he’d make a “stronger” general election opponent than Joe Biden.
The Democratic governor joined his brother, CNN’s Chris Cuomo, for a Monday night interview, during which he was asked to respond to the president’s comments. That morning, Trump claimed during a Fox News interview that he “wouldn’t mind” running against Cuomo, who has been complimented for his leadership amid the state’s coronavirus crisis.
“I’ll be honest. I think he’d be a better candidate than ‘Sleepy Joe,'” Trump said.
Cuomo, however, brushed off the remark and said he has not given the idea any thought and doesn’t plan to.
“No,” he said when asked if he was considering a presidential run.
“No, you won’t answer?” his brother responded.
“No, I answered. The answer is no,” the governor shot back.
“No, you’re not thinking about it?” the CNN host pressed again.
“Sometimes it’s one word. I said no,” the governor said, adding that he hasn’t considered the idea and isn’t open to entertaining it.
Cuomo then went on to make the case as to why he believes the former vice president, who is the presumed 2020 Democratic nominee, is best suited to take on Trump in November.
“I know Joe Biden many, many years. I worked with him when he was vice president. He has been a tremendous asset to the state of New York when he was the vice president with President Obama. So, I’ve worked with him on a professional level. I know him very well personally. I can’t say enough good things about Joe Biden, so I think he’s a great public servant,” he said.
“I think he’s been extraordinary on a number of levels. I think he’s a good man. I think he has a good heart. I think he has a good soul. I think he’s well meaning. He’s knowledgeable as heck. He has wisdom. And I think he’s a leader,” he continued. “Joe Biden is a guy who does the job for real Americans … He relates to people all across the country that way. And his sense of connectivity, his sense of capacity. You put all that together, and he’s the real deal.”
Cuomo also tamped down political buzz earlier on Monday, saying during a press briefing, “I’m not running for president. I was never running for president. I said from day one I wasn’t running for president. I’m not running for president now. I’m not playing politics.”
The governor nonetheless is now the third top bet to win the presidency behind Trump and Biden, surging ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is Biden’s last remaining opponent in the Democratic primary.
