November 21, 2005
Mario Cuomo Down on New York Politicos
A few days ago, 1010 WINS had a story about how New York state has the leading 2008 Presidential contenders, with Hillary Clinton currently leading the Democrats and Rudy Giuliani leading the Republicans at this very early stage. But what was more interesting was the commentary about the NY political scene from former Governor Mario Cuomo. Cuomo told 1010 WINS that he wasn't surprised by Clinton's or Giuliani's popularity...BUT:
If you were Merlin and you had taken a young boy with a fragile build and dipped him into the cauldron of boiling juices from lizards' insides and produced a knight with the biggest, broadest sword ever seen, you wouldn't have a better miracle than Giuliani produced by 9-11. I wish I could say he was the product of a developed politics here that is so strong, but he wasn't. And, neither was Hillary. Hillary was an import from Washington who chose, to our benefit, to come to New York. Both these people — yeah, they are New Yorkers now and very much so, but not a product of New York politics.Snap snap! If 2008 were a contest between Clinton and Giuliani, our heads would implode. We bet both conventions would be held in NYC, and then the Armageddon happens.
And Cuomo ran for the Democratic mayoral nod back in 1977, but lost to Ed Koch.
[Via reader Josh - thanks for this gem]
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But isn't that the essential essence of New York? A community of nomads, natives, and vagabonds to use a “Sinatra reference”. A patchwork quilt of many parts coming together! I think the important thing is, they are New Yorkers now.
But the fact that Giuliani and Clinton are very much New Yorkers would potentially make them unappetizing in the rest of the country. The republican base won't support a pro-choice candidate with negative personal baggage such as Giuliani and the south doesn't like northeastern democrats like Clinton.
I think the fact that Hillary and Rudy are not products of NY politics is a plus. NY politics has traditionally been machine-driven and corrupt. Freddy F. (remember him?) is a product of NY politics. So is Mario C., a has-been who got beat by a nobody who was also a product of NY politics.
Peter -- Hillary is actually a southern Democrat who moved north. Still doesn't change the fact that most Americans get a bad vibe from her.
And Guiliani has negative baggage -- for all the 9/11 greatness, if Karl Rove was working for a Rudy rival, all he would have to do is mention the fact that Rudy divorced his first wife and then moved out of the mayor's mansion to an apartment he shared with gay guys. Done. Over. Nice knowing you, Rudy.