President Trump predicted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would have been a more formidable opponent compared to presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in this year’s general election.
“I’ve known Andrew a long time. I wouldn’t mind that. I’ll be honest, I think he’d be a better candidate than ‘Sleepy Joe,'” Trump told Fox News Monday.
Trump also claimed he could “guarantee” that Biden “doesn’t even see” the searing statements his campaign releases criticizing the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as the former two-term vice president tries to reassert himself into the national conversation.
Trump was asked about a hypothetical Cuomo candidacy as the New York governor’s approval ratings skyrocket based on his leadership as the country faces public health and economic repercussions from the novel respiratory illness. But the White House incumbent insisted Cuomo’s success wasn’t his alone.
“One of the reasons he’s successful is because we’ve helped make him successful,” he said.
Trump referred to medical equipment such as ventilators and respirator masks, as well as a U.S. Navy hospital ship that will house patients without the COVID-19 virus to free up resources for mainland facilities.
“I want somebody that this country, that is going to do a great job, and I hope I’m going to win. The polls say I’m going to win,” he added. “I’ve gotten great marks also. We want to always make sure we have a great president; we have somebody that’s capable.”
Biden has yet to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has 1,174 pledged delegates to remaining Democratic rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s 862. A total of 1,991 are required to become his party’s next standard-bearer. The next primary election isn’t until Wisconsin’s contest on April 7.
