Cuomo endorses Schneiderman for attorney general
Democratic New York Attorney General candididate Eric Schneiderman makes his primary night victory appearance at the Grand Hyatt. (Sept. 15, 2010) Credit: Craig Ruttle
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally took sides Sunday in the race to replace him, endorsing fellow Democrat Eric Schneiderman, a Manhattan state senator. Cuomo's endorsement puts the state's Democratic establishment behind Schneiderman, who is running even in some polls with Republican Dan Donovan, the Staten Island district attorney.
Being attorney general, Cuomo said at a Central Park news conference, "takes brains and it takes guts, and Eric Schneiderman has both." Schneiderman said Cuomo had made the attorney general's office into a "national model" by taking on Wall Street and health insurance companies.
"I'm committed to the same aggressive approach," Schneiderman said, adding: "I will never shy away from a tough fight."
Donovan's campaign had no comment Sunday, a spokeswoman said. A Siena Research Institute poll of registered voters last week found Schneiderman leading 45 to 31, but a survey of likely voters by the Quinnipiac University poll, also last week, showed them virtually tied.
Cuomo had reportedly been reluctant to support Schneiderman, believing someone from outside the State Legislature was best positioned to tackle corruption in Albany. But he also did not throw his support to any of Schneiderman's four opponents in the Democratic primary, which Schneiderman won by two percentage points over Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
Sunday, when asked whether he had voted for Schneiderman in the primary, Cuomo wouldn't answer. "I thought there were a lot of quality candidates, and I thought there was a good debate, frankly, in the primaries," Cuomo said of his decision. Of that race, he said, "I don't think it's appropriate to take a position now."
Asked whether he thought Schneiderman could effectively provide oversight of the legislature, Cuomo said he had "no concerns," adding, "I think Eric is going to do an outstanding job on all levels."
The two men first met while working on the 1982 gubernatorial campaign of Cuomo's father, Mario Cuomo.
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