Here’s a fun piece from the AP on New York’s Democratic governor and his increasingly transparent presidential aspirations:
An ambitious Democratic governor with possible White House aspirations has a formula for staying blue in the time of Trump: Take your progressive message directly to angst-ridden middle-class voters.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to break from tradition and roll out his state-of-the-state address in a series of speeches across the state this past week infuriated lawmakers he essentially bypassed. But his populist proposals, including free college tuition, expanded child care tax credits and a “buy American” plan, appear to have landed with at least some of his intended target.
But some wonder just how sincere Cuomo really is, questioning whether his middle-class outreach formula that he defiantly posed as an alternative to Donald Trump is nothing more than the groundwork for a presidential run. And they question where this formula — combining progressive social programs and big spending on airports, train stations and water infrastructure — was during Cuomo’s previous six years as governor.
Cuomo backed and campaigned for Hillary Clinton, as one might have expected. And New York’s progressive activists, dissatisfied with his leadership, tried (and failed) to run another candidate against him on the Working Families’ Party line in 2014.
But he did invite Bernie Sanders to the announcement of his new free college plan earlier this month. He also recently imposed a $15 minimum wage and a mandate that businesses in New York pay 12 weeks of family leave. So who knows?
