Bill Clinton is wading directly into the battle for the future of the Democratic Party, endorsing disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo in his comeback bid to be mayor of New York City.
Clinton’s last-minute endorsement came just before Tuesday’s primary, which will likely decide the next mayor of the deep blue city.
The main contenders are Cuomo, a tarnished idol of the Democratic Party, and progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani.
“I am honored to have the support of President Bill Clinton — a personal mentor, friend, and hero,” Cuomo said.
“His administration was one of the most accomplished in modern political history.
The contest is drawing interest far outside the limits of the city’s five boroughs.
Prominent Democrats are weighing in on both sides.
Clinton, who lives in a wealthy suburb north of the city, released a robocall backing Cuomo.
Cuomo worked as Housing Secretary in the Clinton White House.
In the recorded message, Clinton said:
“The election will decide the next mayor of New York, and I urge you to vote for Andrew Cuomo.
“As president, I chose Andrew to be my secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and he never let me down.”
“New York City is facing major challenges,” Clinton added.
“There is a desperate need for affordable housing, homelessness is at a crisis level, and public safety must be restored.
“It is imperative that New York chooses a mayor who has the ability, talent, and experience to do the job.”
Clinton is the biggest name to weigh in so far.
However, Cuomo has also been endorsed by Democrat powerbroker Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC).
Clyburn also helped secure Joe Biden’s presidential nomination in 2020.
In 2020, Cuomo rode a wave of fear during the Covid pandemic to become one of the nation’s most popular Democrats.
Like Clinton, Cuomo eventually fell from grace a year later over sexual misconduct claims.
Cuomo also faced criticism for covering up nursing home deaths during the pandemic.
New York’s Democrat Attorney General Letitia James, who led the investigations that led to Cuomo’s resignation, has weighed in forcefully against the former governor in the city’s ranked-choice primary.
The system allows voters to choose more than one candidate in order of preference.
Despite his scandalous past, Cuomo has some advantages.
Besides name recognition, Cuomo still has ties to the Democratic Party establishment, as Clinton’s endorsement makes clear.
Meanwhile, the northeastern U.S. is currently experiencing a brutal heat wave that is expected to send temperatures in New York soaring to 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.
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