Cuomo’s gift to Bharara

[hrmjustin]

Blake Zeff

After suffering a flood of unwanted attention, Andrew Cuomo has some good news to enjoy, for the moment.

Nearly three weeks after the publication of a Times investigation that detailed his administration's interference with the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption, there appears to be little significant damage to Cuomo’s re-election effort.

That’s partly because of the inside-baseball nature of the imbroglio. It's also because the governor’s team just about saturated the airwaves with positive ads to overwhelm the negative coverage. And, of course, it's because his opponents lack the name recognition and resources to pose a serious alternative.

But, as the governor well knows, it's not yet time to celebrate.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8550490/cuomos-gift-bharara

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Realistically, nothing short of a criminal indictment ......

... ok; maybe the discovery of a dead body somewhere.... is going to lose him the primary.

And an indictment... if there is one.... can't happen before September 9.

There's a huge hunk of political real estate between September and November ... and this prosecutor has proven... so far, anyway.... to be beyond Quid Pro Cuomo's power to influence or intimidate.

Since Cuomo will essentially be the candidate of both parties.... the traditional $$$ money people GOP people have switched sides and as we all know in NYS, money, and not tea-party voters, is where the action is ......the November race looks to be be a lopsided 3-way contest:

$tatus Cuomo vs. a nominal GOP candidate ---- sort of like the no-name who was nominated in CT by GOP to be on the ballot to help swing the senate election to Lieberman ( their *actual* choice) against DEM nominee Lamont a few years ago.

The third choice will be Hawkins-Jones of the Greens. They may out-poll Astorino.... at this point. Might even out-FUNDRAISE him, too.


All of this assumes that Cuomo is not indicted for witness tampering, obstruction or perjury, etc. BEFORE Nov.

[hrmjustin]

2. They won't indict just before an election.