Democratic gu bernatorial hope ful Andrew Cuomo’s massive, $23 million-and-growing war chest may turn out to be the Republicans’ best friend in the November election.
That’s the fear being voiced by some key Democrats, who say Cuomo’s widely touted “Albany is broken and corrupt” message will contribute to the defeat of dozens of his own party’s incumbents.
“The big question for many Democrats is, ‘Does Andrew’s message take a major toll on his own party?’ ” was how a prominent Democrat put it yesterday.
Sources said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) worries that a dozen or more Democratic Assembly members will be defeated because of unprecedented anti-incumbent sentiment among voters — as well as Albany’s well-earned reputation for dysfunction and runaway tax-and-spend policies.
“If Andrew spends, say, $10 million in his campaign just emphasizing the theme that Albany is broken, that surely will contribute to the defeat of some Democratic candidates,” said a lobbyist close to Democratic leaders.
Senate Democrats, with a mere one-vote majority, fear that heavy spending by Cuomo attacking the Legislature could lead to a return of GOP control.
“As far as we’re concerned, Andrew’s message about corruption in Albany — where the Democrats control everything — is a good one for us,” said a prominent Senate Republican.
Meanwhile, Cuomo’s gubernatorial campaign is likely to win the official backing of the state AFL-CIO today, with the teachers union and possibly other public-employee unions voting to stay neutral.
The huge labor federation is facing increasing strains between public-sector unions, which fear Cuomo’s plans to cap local property taxes and slash state spending, and unions representing the private sector, which have seen their memberships decline as a result of New York’s ever-worsening business climate.
“The privates are all with Cuomo, and the publics are all nervous, weighing the danger to them of not being on the winning side as against supporting a candidate who, as they see it, may be out to kill them,” was how a labor leader described the situation.
Cuomo, widely seen as unbeatable in the November election, doesn’t need the AFL-CIO’s backing, but would like it to strengthen his hand in dealing with the large block of tax-and-spend “progressive” Democrats in the Legislature.
Support from the AFL-CIO would also strengthen Cuomo’s position should he decide to reject the backing of the scandal-scarred but union-backed Working Families Party.