Gov.-elect Cuomo says McMillan 'beat everybody'

Andrew Cuomo may have earned a decisive victory as New York’s next governor, but on Thursday he readily admitted defeat in the sole candidates’ debate leading up to the elections.

“Jimmy McMillan beat everybody,” Cuomo said on TALK 1300-AM in Albany during his first public interview as governor-elect.

McMillan, who ran on his Rent is 2 Damn High Party, was instantly catapulted to cult stardom after the debate but only had a fifth place showing in the polls.

“He’s right. I did win,” McMillan told amNewYork.

In replaying the campaign season, Cuomo said that while there was much criticism over having all seven candidates take part in the debate, he did not regret the format. He said he did, however, regret other aspects of the race but didn’t specify what they were. The race has been “emotionally exhausting,” Cuomo added.

On Thursday, Cuomo reportedly still had not yet received a concession call from his GOP opponent in the race, Carl Paladino. A Paladino spokesman told The New York Times that he had called Cuomo’s campaign manager on Wednesday but never heard back.

Nevertheless, it seems as if Cuomo has already begun planning for his new role. Over the next few weeks, Cuomo, 52, said in his radio interview that he will be making personnel choices and is ready to assume the role his father, Mario, held for three terms.

One person willing to take on a role in the Cuomo cabinet is McMillan.

“If he said, ‘Mr. McMillan, I need your help,’ I would be there in a heart beat,” McMillan added.